Our school media center is in need of some help. It has not been weeded in ages, no book repairs, no proper shelving, the list goes on. My question is are there a standard school of thought as to how long to leave fiction on the shelves that has not circulated? 5 years, 10 years ????? Non-fiction should work the same as in the public library???? CREW method. Just want some guidance so that I can help out in any way I can to get them a functional media center again. Trixie L. McMeeking Homer Public Library 141 W. Main St. Homer, MI 49245 517-568-3450 Fax 517-568-4021 hpl@wowway.biz homerpl.michlibrary.org
I think it depends on space and funds. We are a small, cramped library so we weed out most materials that haven't circulated in 3 years. We try to be generous and consider that some types of books, like large heavy art books, don't circulate but might be enjoyed in-house and other types, like poetry books, aren't super popular but still should have a presence in a public library. If you don't have the funds to replace the weeded books with new titles, I would be a bit less harsh with the weeding. Deb Hemmye Library Director Huntington Woods Public Library 26415 Scotia Road Huntington Woods, MI 48070 248-543-9720, ext. 686 Currently listening to Julie Chan is Dead, by Liann Zhang ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michlib" <michlib-l@mcls.org> To: "Michlib" <michlib-l@mcls.org> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2025 1:09:03 PM Subject: [Michlib-l] Help from school librarians Our school media center is in need of some help. It has not been weeded in ages, no book repairs, no proper shelving, the list goes on. My question is are there a standard school of thought as to how long to leave fiction on the shelves that has not circulated? 5 years, 10 years ????? Non-fiction should work the same as in the public library???? CREW method. Just want some guidance so that I can help out in any way I can to get them a functional media center again. Trixie L. McMeeking Homer Public Library 141 W. Main St. Homer, MI 49245 517-568-3450 Fax 517-568-4021 hpl@wowway.biz https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__homerpl.michlibrary.org&d=DwIGaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=sW0QtgsUF_VTgHYbMLAYDX2ikQwQhwFgtcNmyu5STJQ&m=4vlCjYsE35PaLiYViLNw7199V52FbzGvupXy6O2XWhdgFEaXdWPbgQH49wmMET9E&s=qz-KS8fRqBDC3jEYHFIqnKy1foCGlOiuLIyZbY-vVmc&e= _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@mcls.org https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__mail3.mcls.org_mailman_listinfo_michlib-2Dl&d=DwIGaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=sW0QtgsUF_VTgHYbMLAYDX2ikQwQhwFgtcNmyu5STJQ&m=4vlCjYsE35PaLiYViLNw7199V52FbzGvupXy6O2XWhdgFEaXdWPbgQH49wmMET9E&s=LhYMn-ES5EJ68lBfwiw0SvOixSeTa4zdEvKtoqvYEsM&e=
Like Deb said we are an even smaller library than hers and wedding has always been a priority. I think the best place to start would be with the non-fiction. There must be all kinds of books that are out of date. We tend to hang onto our non-fiction longer than we should but our children's librarian did a heavy weed recently. We generally hang on to fiction for 5 years. If it hasn't gone out we get rid of it unless it is a classic. We have used the CREW method. Wish I lived closer. I'd volunteer to come and help with the media center. Teresa Natzke Director Franklin Public Library ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michlib-l" <michlib-l@mcls.org> To: "Trixie L. McMeeking" <hpl@wowway.biz> Cc: "Michlib-l" <michlib-l@mcls.org> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2025 1:29:47 PM Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Help from school librarians I think it depends on space and funds. We are a small, cramped library so we weed out most materials that haven't circulated in 3 years. We try to be generous and consider that some types of books, like large heavy art books, don't circulate but might be enjoyed in-house and other types, like poetry books, aren't super popular but still should have a presence in a public library. If you don't have the funds to replace the weeded books with new titles, I would be a bit less harsh with the weeding. Deb Hemmye Library Director Huntington Woods Public Library 26415 Scotia Road Huntington Woods, MI 48070 248-543-9720, ext. 686 Currently listening to Julie Chan is Dead, by Liann Zhang ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michlib" <michlib-l@mcls.org> To: "Michlib" <michlib-l@mcls.org> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2025 1:09:03 PM Subject: [Michlib-l] Help from school librarians Our school media center is in need of some help. It has not been weeded in ages, no book repairs, no proper shelving, the list goes on. My question is are there a standard school of thought as to how long to leave fiction on the shelves that has not circulated? 5 years, 10 years ????? Non-fiction should work the same as in the public library???? CREW method. Just want some guidance so that I can help out in any way I can to get them a functional media center again. Trixie L. McMeeking Homer Public Library 141 W. Main St. Homer, MI 49245 517-568-3450 Fax 517-568-4021 hpl@wowway.biz https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__homerpl.michlibrary.org&d=DwIGaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=sW0QtgsUF_VTgHYbMLAYDX2ikQwQhwFgtcNmyu5STJQ&m=4vlCjYsE35PaLiYViLNw7199V52FbzGvupXy6O2XWhdgFEaXdWPbgQH49wmMET9E&s=qz-KS8fRqBDC3jEYHFIqnKy1foCGlOiuLIyZbY-vVmc&e= _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@mcls.org https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__mail3.mcls.org_mailman_listinfo_michlib-2Dl&d=DwIGaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=sW0QtgsUF_VTgHYbMLAYDX2ikQwQhwFgtcNmyu5STJQ&m=4vlCjYsE35PaLiYViLNw7199V52FbzGvupXy6O2XWhdgFEaXdWPbgQH49wmMET9E&s=LhYMn-ES5EJ68lBfwiw0SvOixSeTa4zdEvKtoqvYEsM&e= _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@mcls.org https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__mail3.mcls.org_mailman_listinfo_michlib-2Dl&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=e6sAxXCJmykY2k1UijXWkmTzAl96Vq907WIJ-Knaxek&m=CiPM7J3cAS0ZesLs3uoBZ7ze7rL87DUCK24THIYW7WtamKb-Ca0VJRJvLq4bgReS&s=ZxXqOHoKkyuoPQbzhWZnPU08w8pjfnpf-uPCdAESNbQ&e=
We use the CREW method. In general, nonfiction can become dated quickly in the sciences, and computer science. So they might be weeded if outdated. History books on the other hand can be kept longer. Biographies really depends on whether folks are reading, but celebrities come and go faster so they might be weeded more quickly. Fiction mostly 5 years without a check out. Jacqueline LaFreniere, Director Beaver Island District Library 26400 Donegal Bay Road PO Box 246 Beaver Island, MI 49782 (231) 448-2701 On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM Teresa Natzke via Michlib-l < michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:
Like Deb said we are an even smaller library than hers and wedding has always been a priority. I think the best place to start would be with the non-fiction. There must be all kinds of books that are out of date. We tend to hang onto our non-fiction longer than we should but our children's librarian did a heavy weed recently. We generally hang on to fiction for 5 years. If it hasn't gone out we get rid of it unless it is a classic. We have used the CREW method.
Wish I lived closer. I'd volunteer to come and help with the media center.
Teresa Natzke Director Franklin Public Library
----- Original Message ----- From: "Michlib-l" <michlib-l@mcls.org> To: "Trixie L. McMeeking" <hpl@wowway.biz> Cc: "Michlib-l" <michlib-l@mcls.org> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2025 1:29:47 PM Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Help from school librarians
I think it depends on space and funds. We are a small, cramped library so we weed out most materials that haven't circulated in 3 years. We try to be generous and consider that some types of books, like large heavy art books, don't circulate but might be enjoyed in-house and other types, like poetry books, aren't super popular but still should have a presence in a public library. If you don't have the funds to replace the weeded books with new titles, I would be a bit less harsh with the weeding.
Deb Hemmye Library Director Huntington Woods Public Library 26415 Scotia Road Huntington Woods, MI 48070 248-543-9720, ext. 686
Currently listening to Julie Chan is Dead, by Liann Zhang
----- Original Message ----- From: "Michlib" <michlib-l@mcls.org> To: "Michlib" <michlib-l@mcls.org> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2025 1:09:03 PM Subject: [Michlib-l] Help from school librarians
Our school media center is in need of some help. It has not been weeded in ages, no book repairs, no proper shelving, the list goes on.
My question is are there a standard school of thought as to how long to leave fiction on the shelves that has not circulated? 5 years, 10 years ????? Non-fiction should work the same as in the public library???? CREW method.
Just want some guidance so that I can help out in any way I can to get them a functional media center again.
Trixie L. McMeeking Homer Public Library 141 W. Main St. Homer, MI 49245 517-568-3450 Fax 517-568-4021 hpl@wowway.biz
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Thank you to all of you who replied to my call for guidance. It will be a lengthy process but we can already see light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you again!!! Trixie On Mon, 22 Sep 2025 13:09:03 -0400, "Trixie L. McMeeking" <hpl@wowway.biz> wrote: Our school media center is in need of some help. It has not been weeded in ages, no book repairs, no proper shelving, the list goes on. My question is are there a standard school of thought as to how long to leave fiction on the shelves that has not circulated? 5 years, 10 years ????? Non-fiction should work the same as in the public library???? CREW method. Just want some guidance so that I can help out in any way I can to get them a functional media center again. Trixie L. McMeeking Homer Public Library 141 W. Main St. Homer, MI 49245 517-568-3450 Fax 517-568-4021 hpl@wowway.biz homerpl.michlibrary.org
participants (4)
-
Deb Hemmye -
Jacqueline LaFreniere -
Teresa Natzke -
Trixie L. McMeeking