Weeding of Library Collection
Weeding of library collections generally refers to the addition of new additions to the library by removing redundant or old or obsolete books. Rejection or relocation of excess books, infrequently used books and books that have not been used for a long time is called Book Weeding.
A library or a librarian who only buys books but does not weed out unnecessary books soon becomes full of obsolete material.
In order to keep the library alive and fresh, it is sometimes necessary to remove unnecessary books – booklets, letters – magazines, documents from the collected books. This removal is called weeding. Just as the field needs to be weeded to produce good crops, so also unwanted books and documents need to be removed from the library collection from time to time. This omission is called weeding of library collection.
Consideration Factors
Sorting is an essential part of the library and the task is very complex. This sorting policy depends on its organizational type, characteristics of users, objectives, actual benefits, age and type of collections. Every library should formulate a written retrenchment policy and implement the retrenchment process through an expert committee. And to weed out library collections, the following points should be kept in mind:
- Permanent collection: Sorting of books In the first stage we have to notice whether there are any books in the collection which do not need to be kept in the library for a long time or those books which do not need to be kept as permanent selection can be sorted.
- Compaction of space: In any library, big or small, space collection becomes a glaring problem in a very short period of time. Construction of new buildings or expansion of libraries requires space and money. In that case weeding of library materials becomes necessary.
- New Book: The modern world has been overwhelmed by the advent of the information explosion. New books are constantly being published in the world with new information and data. Users in research or information dissemination need new books regularly. But due to financial and space constraints, it is often not possible to buy new books, so retrenchment is necessary to keep new books.
- Due to digitization of library: Being a digital library, a part of the library has to be left for computers Section. As a result, library space is reduced for storage space for books and other materials. Book sorting is a continuous process.
- Old and damaged library materials: Library collections in insect cut, worn, destroyed, damaged, washed and faded conditions may be rejected. Because such a collection annoys rather than satisfies the reader and spoils the attraction of the library user.
- Textbooks: In the case of textbooks, new editions should be collected after discarding the old ones as soon as the government decides.
- Unsolicited donations: Books that are unsolicited but made available for free through various institutions should be looked at to see how the reader is interested in the books and whether they are self-serving or promotional or communal.
- Handbooks: Handbooks are very valuable and necessary. Usually dictionaries ,encyclopedias directories etc. guide books. If you can afford it, you should buy it, if you can’t afford it, you should save it.
- Famous and original books: Famous original books are made into library resources. In such a situation, even if old, they should be preserved for all time by blocking and repairing them in a new way. The underlying message of such books is necessary for all times.
- Old history and geography books: Although space is limited, some related collections should be kept in the library for future generations.
- Books on science, technology, engineering, medicine and agriculture: New edition books must be collected in the mentioned subjects. Among these are electronic and computer books, which are being published so often that they are no longer useful, so these obsolete books have to be discarded and new editions proposed.
- Reference and Research Books: Reference and research books never get old. In such a situation, such collection of new books is necessary as well as old books should be preserved in microform system.
- Literary books: Literature, poetry, drama, essays etc. Literary books are always considered new. Especially, the books of famous writers conquer time and time and are anointed in the seat of the new ones. For example, the works of world famous writers like Shakespeare, Rabindranath, Tolstoy, Socrates, Aristotle, Rousseau, Voltaire etc. are timeless. They should not be dismissed at work.
- Religious books: Religious books are a very sensitive issue for the concerned community. These books are generally better not to be deleted for the sake of collecting new editions and in case of problems; action can be taken as per the advice of the concerned religious leaders.
- Newspapers and periodicals: These grow rapidly so the rest should be cut off keeping the needs.
Also, new editions, changes in demand, writing style or method, obsolete sections, irregular numbers etc. have to be considered for weeding of library materials.
Time limit: There is no hard and fast rule as to how many years the collection should be closed. However, some libraries are retrenched every 30 years, 20 years, 10 years or 5 years. But these things depend on the type and nature of the library.
