Appendix A COLLECTION WEEDING GUIDELINES THE CREW GUIDELINES FOR WEEDING YOUR COLLECTION https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/crew/index.html
The formulas given here for the
various Dewey classes are rules of thumb based on professional opinions in the
literature and practical experience. The formula in each case consists of three
parts:
1) The first figure refers to the
years since the book's latest copyright date (age of material in the book);
2) The second figure refers to the maximum permissible time without usage (in
terms of years since its last recorded circulation);
3) The third refers to the presence of various negative factors, called MUSTIE
factors.
For example, the formula
"8/3/MUSTIE" means: "Consider a book in this class for discard
when its latest copyright is more than eight (8) years ago; and/or, when its
last circulation or in-house use was more than three (3) years ago; and/or,
when it possesses one or more of the MUSTIE factors."
Most formulas include a
"3" in the usage category and a MUSTIE in the negative factors
category. The figure in the age category varies considerably from subject to
subject. If any one of the three factors is not applicable to a specific
subject, the category is filled with an "X".
MUSTIE is an easily remembered
acronym for six negative factors that frequently ruin a book's usefulness and
mark it for weeding: M = Misleading (and/or factually inaccurate) U = Ugly (worn and beyond mending or rebinding) S = Superseded (by a truly new edition or by a much better
book on the subject) T = Trivial (of no discernible literary or scientific
merit) I = Irrelevant to the needs and interests of your
community E = The material may be obtained expeditiously Elsewhere
through interlibrary loan or reciprocal borrowing.
In all cases, weeding decisions
ultimately depend upon the professional judgments of the library staff who are
responsible for the selection of materials in response to the needs of
their library's patrons. While the MUSTIE formula may be used as a guide in
making weeding decisions, these guidelines can and should be adjusted to
meet the needs of the specific library, by substituting numbers that best
reflect the library's mission and goals.35Carefully consider all the factors
involved in the weeding process, rather than automatically discarding an item
with an older copyright date.
CREW GUIDELINES BY DEWEY CLASS
000 (Generalities) 004 (Computers) 3/X/MUSTIE Works on computers are seldom
useful after three years.36 Works on microcomputers and software have an
even shorter life span, but may be kept on hand longer if there is strong
community demand.
010 (Bibliography) 10/X/MUSTIE Discard after ten years from the
date of copyright.
020 (Library & Info. Science) 10/3/MUSTIE Discard all that do not conform to
current, acceptable practice.37
030 (General Encyclopedias) 5/X/MUSTIE Stagger replacement sets over a
seven year period (e.g., replace Britannica in year one, World Book in year
three, Americana in year five, then a new Britannica in year seven); one new
encyclopedia set at least every five years. Older sets may be sold or
circulated, but withdraw circulating sets after no more than eight years.
other 000's 5/X/MUSTIE Except trivia which may be kept
indefinitely or until no longer considered useful or interesting.
100 (Philosophy and Psychology)
133 (Paranormal Phenomena) 15/3/MUSTIE Should be kept until worn,
although it will be necessary to replace lost titles every so often since
this category includes the popular topics of fortune-telling, dream
interpretation, and astrology.
150 (Psychology) 10/3/MUSTIE Try to keep abreast of new and
popular topics, especially the 158's (self-help). Replace works on clinical,
comparative, and developmental psychology within five to eight years.38
160, 170 (Logic)(Ethics) 10/3/MUSTIE Value determined mainly by use.
Replace worn classics with attractive trade paperback editions.
200 (Religion) Try to have something up-to-date on each religion represented by a church,
synagogue, or other assembly in the community or region, as well as something
on the well-known modern sects such as Hare Krishna.39 Include timely and comprehensive information
on the six major international religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism,
Islam, Judaism, and Taoism. 10/3/MUSTIE or 5/3/MUSTIE Use 10/3/MUSTIE except for areas
of rapid change, which are 5/3/MUSTIE. (This area is difficult to weed
because (a) the items are often donated and librarians fear criticism, and
(b) religious works SEEM like they should be treated exceptionally, but they
should not be.)
300 (Social Sciences) See that controversial issues are represented from all viewpoints and that
information is current, accurate, and fair.
310 (General Statistics) 2/X/MUSTIE Almanacs are seldom of much use
after two years; add one, discard one every year, to keep only last three
years in the collection. If possible, keep one copy in reference and one in
the circulating collection for any year. Otherwise, copies from past years
may be transferred from reference to circulating when superseded by new
editions. All public libraries in Texas should have at least one
general almanac and the Texas Almanac; need only last decennial
census.
320 (Political Science) 5/3/MUSTIE For topical books; historical
materials are judged more on the basis of use: 10/3/MUSTIE.
330 (Economics) 5/3/MUSTIE Update items available in revised
editions. Be aware of radical changes in statutes, regulations, or general
climate for a particular type of investment. Well-known authors with no newer
books available and items intended as histories of a particular era may be
retained40 if MUSTIE factors are acceptable.
340 (Law) 10/X/MUSTIE Replace when more current data
becomes available. Never keep superseded editions, even on heavily
used topics like divorce or child support.
350 (Public Administration) 10/X/MUSTIE Keep up-to-date; replace when
state and federal administrations change or constitutional reforms occur.
360 (Social Services) 5/X/MUSTIE Discard career materials after
five years;41 older reference copies may be circulated.
Pay close attention to revisions in standard test books (GED, ACT, etc.).
Some may be retained for 10 years or longer if certain sections have not
changed.
370 (Education) 10/3/MUSTIE Keep historical materials only if
used. Discard all outdated theories; check with a teacher or principal if in
doubt.
390 (Customs, Etiquette, Folklore) Folklore, Customs 10/3/MUSTIE Keep standard works; weed
according to use.
Etiquette 5/3/MUSTIE Keep only basic, up-to-date
titles.
400 (Language) 10/3/MUSTIE Discard old-fashioned and
unsightly textbooks and outdated school gram-mars. Need only stock
dictionaries for major foreign languages (e.g., French, Spanish, Italian,
German), and any other languages being studied or spoken in the community.
Dictionaries: 5/3/MUSTIE.
500 (Natural Sciences) 5/3/MUSTIE Carefully evaluate anything over
five years old, except botany and natural history.42 Replace worn classics or significant
historical works with new editions. Pay particular attention to the physics,
environmental issues, and astronomy sections. Keep basic works of significant
historical or literary value, such as Charles Darwin's classic Origin of
Species, or Michael Faraday's Chemical History of a Candle.
Replace worn copies with new editions.
510 (Mathematics) 10/3/MUSTIE Replace older materials on
algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus with revised editions. Discard
most titles covering slide rules and the "new math" of the 1960s.43
550 (Earth Sciences) X/3/MUSTIE Geology books on specific regions,
especially Texas, should be kept indefinitely, or until superseded by newer
editions. All general materials should be replaced when new developments
occur in the field (e.g., theories about continental drift and plate
tectonics have been revised in recent years). Field guides for amateur
fossil, gem, and rock hunters can be kept for up to 20 years if physical
condition allows, unless the area described has changed dramatically through
man-made developments and/ or natural events.44
570 (Life Sciences) 10/3/MUSTIE
580 (Botanical Sciences) 10/3/MUSTIE
600 (Technology, Applied Sciences)
610 (Medicine) 5/3/MUSTIE Except Anatomy and Physiology,
which change very little: X/3/MUSTIE. Keep only the current year plus one previous
year (one reference, one circulating) of PDR and other prescription and
over-the-counter drug directories, replacing when new editions become
available. Materials on fast changing fields of research, such as AIDS,
genetics, cancer, and infertility: 2/X/MUSTIE.45
630 (Agriculture) 5/3/MUSTIE Keep up-to-date; be sure to
collect information on the newest techniques and hybrids if you serve farmers
or ranchers. Keep the Yearbook of Agriculture for the last ten years;
earlier if in demand, but be wary of those with outdated and potential
harmful ideas, such as pest control using DDT.
635 (Horticulture) 10/3/MUSTIE General gardening books may be
useful for up to 20 years, so circulation is the main weeding criteria. Books
about propagation of specific flowers or plants are considered outdated after
10 years. Materials that discuss the use of pesticides and chemicals:
5/3/MUSTIE.46
640 (Home Economics) 10/3/MUSTIE Be strict with old sewing and
grooming materials in which styles change rapidly. Keep cookbooks unless
little used; replace worn popular titles.47
649 (Child Rearing) 5/3/MUSTIE Keep abreast of changing trends
and new theories; replace worn standards like Dr. Spock's Baby & Child
Care with newer editions.
670 (Manufacturing) 10/3/MUSTIE Keep books on old clocks, guns,
and toys since these items are often collected. Also keep works on tools,
farm implements, etc. that are still used in your community.
other 600's (Also Business) 5/3/MUSTIE Technology is making such rapid
advances that any materials over five years old are to be viewed with
suspicion; especially those dealing with drugs, space technology, sex
education, radio, television, medicine, and office skills. (Check to see if
resources contain any information of historical value).48 One major exception: repair manuals for
older cars and appliances should be kept as long as such items are generally
kept in your community; replace when they become filthy or worn from use.
700 (The Arts)
745 (Decorative Arts) X/3/MUSTIE Retain basic technique books if
well illustrated; replace worn and dated materials. Keep all materials on the
history of interior design that are in acceptable condition. Discard general
home decorating ideas after 10 years unless the decorating style becomes
established as a distinct aspect of American interior design (e.g.,
"Southwestern," or "high-tech").49 Keep stamp and coin catalogues up-to-date.
Historical treatments of ancient, foreign, and commemorative coins may be
kept indefinitely, unless the focus is market valuation, then keep no more
than 5 years.50
770 (Photography) 5/3/MUSTIE Check closely for outdated
techniques, and especially outdated equipment; if in doubt, check with local
photography club or buffs.
790 (Recreation) 10/3/MUSTIE Discard and replace as rules and
interests change.
other 700's X/X/MUSTIE Keep all basic materials,
especially histories of art and music. Replace with new editions when they
become worn and unattractive.
800 (Literature) Make a point of keeping files of
assignments or reading lists from local schools, and check any discards
against these lists. Asking local teachers to act as subject specialists when
weeding this area is an excellent way to improve inter-action within the
community. X/X/MUSTIE Keep basic materials, especially
criticism of classic writers. Discard any works of minor writers no longer
read in the local schools, unless there is an established demand among the
non-student population.
900 (Geography and History)
910 (Geography and Travel) 5/3/MUSTIE For guidebooks (such as the Fodor
series) and for descriptive or scientific geography. Some may wish to stagger
orders so that no guide is more than two years old.
10/3/MUSTIE For personal narratives of travel,
unless of high literary or historical value.
Other 900's 15/3/MUSTIE Main factors: demand, accuracy of
facts, and fairness of interpretation. Consider discarding personal
narratives and war memoirs of World War II, the Korean Conflict, and
Indochina War, in favor of broader histories of these conflicts, unless the
author is a local person, or the book is cited in a bibliography as having an
outstanding style or insight. Discard dated viewpoints (e.g., the
McCarthy Era "World Communist Conspiracy" theory of modern
history). Retain some older Revolutionary War materials if local schools assign
annual reports on the subject (e.g., many schools participate in the annual
DAR writing contest).
B or 92 (Biography) X/3/MUSTIE Unless the person treated is of
permanent interest or importance, such as a U.S. President, discard a
biography as soon as demand lessens. This rule especially applies to ghost
written biographies of faddish celebrities. Poor quality biographies of major
figures should be replaced with better ones, if funds permit. Biographies of
outstanding literary value, such as Boswell's Life of Johnson, are to
be kept until worn.
F (Fiction) X/2/MUSTIE Discard works no longer in demand,
especially second and third copies of past bestsellers. Retain works of
durable demand and/or high literary merit, but replace worn copies with new
editions; a non-topical, well-written novel appealing to universal concerns
will continue to circulate at a moderate rate for many years.
E Fiction (Picture Books) X/3/MUSTIE Evaluate all materials carefully
using MUSTIE as a guide. Discard any not suitable for library use, including
those with inferior bindings or any trite commercial publications that
feature popular characters created merely to sell a product. Children's
literature is a large part of the publishing industry; with the wealth of
quality titles available, there is no excuse for keeping books with inferior
stories or artwork in this section.
JF (Juvenile Fiction) X/2/MUSTIE Except award books and those on
school reading lists (e.g., John Newbery Award, Coretta Scott King Award,
Bluebonnet lists). Older, worn editions should be replaced when possible with
newer hardcover or paperback editions with contemporary cover art. Evaluate
closely for outdated styles, artwork, and mores, or prejudiced viewpoints.
Discard if format and reading level are not appropriate to the current
interest level of the book. Discard topical fiction on dated subjects and
abridged or simplified classics in favor of the original, unless needed for
slow or reluctant readers.
YA (Young Adult) Fiction 3/2/MUSTIE Unless very popular. Keep current;
any item that has not circulated within two years may be considered
"dead" and removed. Discard YA fiction with outdated illustrations,
story lines, or subjects. Replace older classics (e.g., The Pigman by
Zindel; The Chocolate War by Cormier) with newer hardback or paperback
editions.
J and YA Nonfiction Use adult criteria for each Dewey
category, but look especially for inaccuracy and triviality which are common
faults of over-simplified children's nonfiction. See the section, "CREWing
Children's Materials" for more detailed criteria.
Periodicals (Also Newspapers) 3/X/X Bind only quality periodicals in
constant use for research (e.g., National Geographic) and listed in Reader's
Guide and other indexes in the library. Carefully weigh the costs for
binding with costs for online searching or CD-ROM format. Other periodicals
used for school research projects (e.g., Time, U.S. News and World
Report): 5/X/X. If financially feasible, buy microforms (film or fiche)
of magazines in heavy demand. For the local newspaper, see section,
"Local History." Clip other periodicals and newspapers sparingly
for the vertical file before discarding.
Vertical File and Government
Documents
VF (Vertical File) 1/2/MUSTIE Weed the vertical file rigorously
at least once a year, with the exception of photograph or picture files. For
text, keep only materials (newspaper clippings, pamphlets) covering topics of
current interest for which no books yet exist (often a book will be published
on a subject within six months after the material is placed in the vertical
file). Date all materials when added to the file.
Government Documents X/X/X Libraries that serve as official
depositories of federal documents are required by law to follow established
procedures governing weeding outlined in Instructions to Depository
Libraries. Procedures depend on whether the library receives some or all
depository publications. Generally, documents produced in more than one physical
format and superseded documents may be discarded on a routine schedule. The
depository must return any money made from selling discards to the
Superintendent of Documents. Selective depositories not served by regional
depositories must keep one copy of all documents received through the
depository system, so read rules and procedures carefully.
Disposal of state documents may
also be affected by state law.51
College Catalogs 2/X/MUSTIE Keep current; keep only those
catalogs from colleges of interest to students in your area and a few
universities of national importance. If possible, circulate print copies of
catalogs and reserve microfilm for in-house use.
Nonprint Media (Also AV) WORST Worn out, Out of date, Rarely used, System
headquarters can supply, or Trivial and faddish. Monitor statistics of
use for these materials and view/ listen to them periodically to deter-mine
their condition. See the section, "CREWing Non-print Media" for
more detail on individual formats.
Videocassettes 2/1/WORST Examine closely after
approximately 150 to 200 circulations; most commercial tapes wear out after
about 250 to 350 viewings. Evaluate visual and sound quality; content
accuracy; relevance of themes; and fairness of racial, cultural or sex role
depiction; and the continuing relevance of material within the library's
overall collection development plan.
Local History X/X/X Your library is also the logical
archives of the community, and, in many cases, of the county. Retain all books
on the history and geography of the city and county; all local
newspapers (on microfilm if possible; otherwise photocopy onto acid-free
paper. Brittle newspaper or fragments have little value in research); all
accounts of travels through your immediate area; all memoirs of local
figures; and all local city directories. Keep most books by
local authors (if of even minimal literary value); and some genealogies
of important local families. Collect local photographs, playbills, and other
ephemera of possible interest to future writers in your area. If possible,
start an oral history program; the audio- and videotapes created are unique,
and therefore not subject to the WORST criteria. To prevent local
history materials, particularly unique, rare, or valuable items, from
becoming worn or soiled, make them non-circulating or transfer them to
archival collections, perhaps in a local museum.
Donations (Also Memorials)
X/X/MUSTIE
Replace worn copies with newer
editions if available, or newer books on the same subjects. Gifts are subject
to the same criteria as other materials; items that do not circulate should
be removed when they become worn or obsolete, regardless of their source.
35 Weeding Manual:
A Self-Help Guide for Small and Medium-Sized Public Libraries, p. 12.
36 “Weeding the School Library Media Collection,” School
Library Media Quarterly. Calgary Board of Education, Educational Media
Team. Volume 12 Number 5, Fall 1984, p. 420.
37 Ibid.
38 Ibid.
39 Weeding Manual: A Self-Help Guide for Small and Medium-Sized
Public Libraries, p. 13.
40 "Weeding and Replacement Ordering Utilizing On-Line
Circulation Data and Community Subject Specialists." Unabashed
Librarian, Number 51, 1984, p. 20.
41 "Weeding the School Library Media Collection," p.
421.
42 Van Orden, Phyllis J. The Collection Program in Schools:
Concepts, Practices, and Information Sources, Libraries Unlimited, Inc.,
1988, p. 247.
43 "Weeding and Replacement Ordering Utilizing On-Line
Circulation Data and Community Subject Specialists." Unabashed Librarian,
Number 51, p. 21.
44 Ibid.
45 Ibid, p. 19.
46 Ibid, p.20.
47 Weeding Manual: A Self-Help Guide for Small and
Medium-Sized Public Libraries, p. 15.
48 Calgary Board of Education, Educational Media Team, p. 421.
49 "Weeding and Replacement Ordering Utilizing On-Line
Circulation Data and Community Subject Specialists," p. 22.
50 Ibid, p. 21.
51 Roy, Loreine. "Weeding," Encyclopedia of Library
and Information Science, vol. 54, 1994, p. 382.