Skip to main content

Annotated Bibliography: Using the CREW Method to Enhance Public and School Library Collections

By
Boon, B. (2009). Using the CREW Method to Enhance Public and School Library Collections. Journal Of Access Services, 6(3), 324-336. doi: 10.1080/15367960902894179

CREW is a weeding system that was developed by Joseph P Segal in the 1980s. CREW was implemented by different libraries in the 1990s. CREW stands for Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding. It is a process that works to make weeding a continuous and small-scale project in a library rather than a daunting task that is done on occasion.
Weeding is a process of removing books and other materials from circulation in the library. There are a few criteria that would make something eligible for weeding, such as being old or damaged, containing incorrect or outdated information, or a material that does not fit the needs of the library patrons. Before a library starts the weeding process the library should have a plan of action for weeding, and a plan to make it a part of the collections policy, as well as part of the regular workings of the library. Before library employees start weeding they can check the shelves and inventory to make a quick visual check of books or materials that may fit their deselection criteria. They can also see more easily if there is a section of the collection that is in more need of weeding than another.
To be able to weed properly one can use these criteria as a starting point for their weeding task. The third, materials that do not fit the needs of the patrons, will change from library to library, so it is important to understand the needs of the library patrons. It is also best to look at each part of the collection differently. For example, the needs of the children's section, the adult fiction section, and nonfiction sections are all going to be different. Knowing the goals of each section of the collection, as well as the libraries role in the community can be very helpful to make sure that the deselection process is keeping the books and materials that are still useful to the library. While weeding it is important to keep notes on what books need to be trashed, donated, or sent to be recycled.
After weeding it is important to keep weeding as a regular process in the library, as well as making sure to dispose of any weeded books properly. Keeping a well-curated and weeded collection allows patrons to more easily find the books and materials they need and want, as well as making sure that the materials they have access to are in good condition and have current and helpful information contained within them. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Website Review - Field Notes

By
Field Notes North Dakota State Library's Library Development Team has several posts dedicated to weeding. Many of the posts are wonderful ideas for what to do with the items weeded from the library shelves. The ND State Library team uses the C.R.E.W. method outlined by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, which advocates for weeding continuously throughout the year. As a result, the suggestions feature decorations for the whole year! Imagine taking tattered, old, outdated, unloved books and turning them into something new(ish), useful and loved! (Bibbidi-boppity-boo!) I’m genuinely excited to try some of the Winter themed crafts. I’ve been tasked with leading an adult holiday craft program. Book wreaths will be the main attraction, but Field Notes has some other decorative upcycling ideas I want to incorporate as well! The most recent post was updated in January 2018 and reaffirms not only the reasons for weeding, but gives advice for how to avoid avoiding weed...
Post a Comment
Read more

Annotated Bibliography- Data Driven Deselection: Using a Decision Support Tool

By
Ehret Snyder, C. (2013, Dec 20). Data-driven deselection: multiple point data using a decision support tool in an academic library. Collection Management, 39 , 11-31. https://doi.org/10.1080/01462679.2013.866607 Weeding is a time-consuming and sensitive task for librarians. It is necessary to make space for new material, keep information current and updated, and remove items in poor condition. Librarians have to determine what kind of data is necessary to review in order to justify removing an item from the library’s shelves. Tools exist to help librarians gather multiple points of data to make the process more efficient. The librarians at Olin Library, part of Rollins College in Florida, utilized such a tool (Sustainable Collections Services) to help them update their collection and present the findings in this paper. Summary: Librarians are short on time and weeding is one of the most time-consuming tasks they can take on. Criteria is necessary to make...
Post a Comment
Read more

Website Review - Awful Library Books

By
Awful Library Books The first thing that catches my attention when I navigate to Awful Library Books is the wonderfully out of date and kitschy covers. (Fran gets me ) It’s 246 pages (as of October 5th) of proof of why libraries need to weed. Many of the items are outside submissions and the whole project is curated by Michigan public librarians Mary Kelly and Holly Hibner. This site is… so much fun. Again, people from all over the country submit images of their books in need of deselection. Some of the titles, such as a copy of Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl will require repurchase at the discretion of the branch, and others, such as Easy DOS It! , a book about the no longer relevant DOS computer system, or a tacky as all get out Burt Reynolds book (likely not how he wants to be remembered, RIP), (This?) (Or THIS?) are best never to be seen again. Awful Library Books pokes fun at the idea that libraries are outdated by displaying the items that we get rid of...
Post a Comment
Read more