Urbana Free Library Board Member Speaks Out on Weeding Controversy

One of the best reviewed books of 2001.    Spared.

Guest commentary: UFL Board would benefit from scrutiny. (News-Gazette, 7/7/2013)

Excerpt with bullet points:  Weeding a public library of

• less-used, 
• damaged, or 
• out-of-date books 

is a normal process that takes considerable time and attention.

With the best of intentions, the director implemented a process involving the use of spreadsheets alone and vastly accelerated pace to select books for weeding.

• It was not well-tested; 
• it hindered the judgment of professionals by changing proven methods, 
• introduced potential clerical errors, and 
• appears to have bypassed some of the criteria specified in the UFL policy, 

resulting in some sections of the nonfiction collection being reduced by 30 percent or even 50 percent or more in two sections.

Related posts:
The Urbana Free Library and a "dissonant rate of discard versus retention"  (7/3/2013)
Urbana Free Library holds special board meeting on June 19th.  (6/24/2013)
University of Illinois GSLIS faculty member advocates for televised library board meetings. / (6/24/2013)
Wondering about the "weeding" "misstep" at the Urbana Free Library.  (6/18/2013)