Difference between revisions of "Library Weeding"

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It has been three years living in an institutional ghost, we have decided its time to reconsider the role of the library at frontyard and reevaluate its relationship to its history.
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To make space, distribute and bring life to [[The Frontyard Library|frontyard's library]], we need to do some weeding. There's currently a small shelf of new acquisitions of special significance to the space and the communities who use it, at eye level as you enter. We'd like to grow this!
What in the collection is relevant to us as a community, and what would we like to add to the collection?
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What in the collection is relevant and generative, and what would we like to add to the collection?
  
 
== Process ==
 
== Process ==
  
(This is a work in progress, derived from a meeting of librarians on the 25th of May 2019)
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(This is a work in progress, derived initially from a meeting of librarians on the 25th of May 2019, and picked up again by the Library & Publications Working Group in February 2023)
  
The process described below will become an ongoing project for the library - to allow us to constantly evaluate the state of the collection, and allow room for new acquisitions.
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The process described below is envisaged to be an ongoing project for the Library - allowing us to constantly evaluate the state of the collection, and make room for new acquisitions.
  
 
=== 1. First Pass ===
 
=== 1. First Pass ===
  
Any visitor to the library is welcome to contribute to this process.
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Any visitor to the library is welcome to contribute to this process.  
  
We are designating books for potential weeding by turn them so that there spines face upwards. These are then grouped together at the beginning of the shelf, and separated from the other books by a red slip.
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We are designating books for potential weeding by turn them sideways, so that their spines face upwards ('unsure if this should be kept') or downwards ('definitely out!'). These are then grouped together at the beginning of the shelf.
  
Everyone is invited to take part in this process.
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Everyone is invited to take part in this process, whenever they like.
  
 
=== 2. Decision Meeting ===
 
=== 2. Decision Meeting ===
  
We will have an open meeting where collectively we work through each of the books designated for weeding in the first pass. For a book to be discarded it will require a majority consensus all those present. If consensus cannot be met the book will remain in the collection.
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We will have an open meeting - NEXT WEEDING MEETING TBC (all welcome!) - where collectively we work through each of the books designated for weeding in the first pass. For a book to be discarded it will require a majority consensus from all those present. If consensus cannot be met the book will remain in the collection.
  
Photograph of the books cover, the decision, and reasoning will be archived on Instagram and/or flickr.
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A photograph of the book's cover, the decision, and reasoning will be archived on the Slack #library channel, Instagram and/or flickr.
  
 
=== 3. Disposal ===
 
=== 3. Disposal ===
  
If books are deemed rare but do not contribute to the FY Library Mission, than we will find the book a new home (NLA, State Library, Local Library).
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If books are deemed rare but do not contribute to the FY Library Mission, then we will find the book a new home (NLA, State Library, Local Library).
  
If books are not rare than there are a number of options,
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If books are not rare than there are a number of options:
  
1. re-purposing (collage, papermaking workshops, etc)
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1. re-purposing (collage eg. Frontyard's Things Fall Apart collage club, mushroom-growing substrate, paper-making workshops, etc)
  
 
2. discard via recycling bin
 
2. discard via recycling bin
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If "yes", then the book is a keeper.
 
If "yes", then the book is a keeper.
 
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If "no", continue to consider the following factors:
If "no", continue to consider the following factors.
 
  
 
2. Is the book available in other libraries?
 
2. Is the book available in other libraries?
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Given the answers to 2-6, should inform the final decision, and the method of disposal. For example if the book is not available in other libraries we should find it a new home.
 
Given the answers to 2-6, should inform the final decision, and the method of disposal. For example if the book is not available in other libraries we should find it a new home.
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== Project Participants ==
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All welcome! Come to our next meeting :)
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* [https://wiki.frontyardprojects.org/everything/User:TZ Tessa Zettel]
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Othy
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Hethre
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Benjamin
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[[Category:Projects]]
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[[Category:Active Projects]]

Latest revision as of 08:28, 27 February 2023

To make space, distribute and bring life to frontyard's library, we need to do some weeding. There's currently a small shelf of new acquisitions of special significance to the space and the communities who use it, at eye level as you enter. We'd like to grow this! What in the collection is relevant and generative, and what would we like to add to the collection?

Process

(This is a work in progress, derived initially from a meeting of librarians on the 25th of May 2019, and picked up again by the Library & Publications Working Group in February 2023)

The process described below is envisaged to be an ongoing project for the Library - allowing us to constantly evaluate the state of the collection, and make room for new acquisitions.

1. First Pass

Any visitor to the library is welcome to contribute to this process.

We are designating books for potential weeding by turn them sideways, so that their spines face upwards ('unsure if this should be kept') or downwards ('definitely out!'). These are then grouped together at the beginning of the shelf.

Everyone is invited to take part in this process, whenever they like.

2. Decision Meeting

We will have an open meeting - NEXT WEEDING MEETING TBC (all welcome!) - where collectively we work through each of the books designated for weeding in the first pass. For a book to be discarded it will require a majority consensus from all those present. If consensus cannot be met the book will remain in the collection.

A photograph of the book's cover, the decision, and reasoning will be archived on the Slack #library channel, Instagram and/or flickr.

3. Disposal

If books are deemed rare but do not contribute to the FY Library Mission, then we will find the book a new home (NLA, State Library, Local Library).

If books are not rare than there are a number of options:

1. re-purposing (collage eg. Frontyard's Things Fall Apart collage club, mushroom-growing substrate, paper-making workshops, etc)

2. discard via recycling bin

3. burn

4. free to a good home

Evaluating if a book should be kept or not

1. Does the book contribute the Frontyard Library's mission?

If "yes", then the book is a keeper. If "no", continue to consider the following factors:

2. Is the book available in other libraries?

3. Is it available online (aaaaarg, libgen, etc)?

4. Is its physical form important to its use?

5. Is it obsolete?

6. Does it have "quirk" factor?

Given the answers to 2-6, should inform the final decision, and the method of disposal. For example if the book is not available in other libraries we should find it a new home.

Project Participants

All welcome! Come to our next meeting :)

Othy

Hethre

Benjamin