Selection Process
Information Ethics
Principles/Criteria
Reconsideration
Supplemental Policy
Weeding

Weeding

Providing library users with learning resources that are up-to-date, in good repair, and promote the school’s mission requires a continuous process of removing items from circulation.  

Materials that meet some or all of the following criteria will be considered for removal from circulation:

• Material contains inaccurate and out-of-date information
• Material has been superseded by another source
• Material is in disrepair
• Material continues to be uncirculated
• Material does not support school library media center goals or school mission statement
• Material is not developmentally appropriate for age group served
• Material does not meet current selection policy criteria

When weeding materials, the school library media specialist should abide by the following procedures:

1. Periodically do a visual scan of materials to check for physical condition, obvious wear-and-tear, or other weeding criteria.
2. Annually check circulation records and publication dates, checking against the weeding criteria when materials seem to be neglected or older.
3. Evaluate materials based upon teacher and student recommendation.

Once materials have been chosen for weeding, the following steps should be taken:

1. Remove materials from electronic catalog.
2. Remove bar code and media center identification information.
3. Document disposition of material and hold in storage until a significant number of materials have been accumulated.
4. Set materials out for teachers to  browse though.
5. Materials that have not been claimed should be donated to a charitable agency or recycled.