[Publib] reference weeding

[Nora Armstrong]

Rita,
 
I just went out to our stacks to see whether we still have this particular Masterplots set. We've got the 1996 Revised Second Edition, also 12 volumes. I'm about to undertake another round of assessment/weeding in the reference collection, and I have to say I'm planning to hang on to it. We do get some use out of it, between high-school and college students. I've used it myself, as supplemental material for my book discussion group.
 
I'm not sure what you mean when you say the books "take up a fair amount of space" - ours occupy only about two or three linear feet. Compared to something like CLC or TCLC, that's not too bad, IMO. But then, we've got a generous amount of physical space and lots of shelving.
 
OTOH, 1968 is kind of dated, even for lit-crit. I don't suppose it'd be in your budget to replace this set with a much newer one? That would be my first choice. If that's not possible, then at the very least I'd replace it with the 1972 set. Any further decision will depend on a couple of factors: a - how much demand is there for this resource at your location? and b - do you have another, more current version of the information (e.g., Cliff's Notes, Spark Notes, a literature database or similar resource) that you can offer to your users?
 
As I grow in experience, I become more pragmatic and a LOT less sentimental about hanging on to stuff just for the sake of "having it."
 
Hope this helps,
Nora
 
Nora Armstrong, Information Services Manager
Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center
300 Maiden Lane
Fayetteville, NC 28301-5000
Phone (910) 483-7727 x204 / Fax (910) 486-6661
narmstro at cumberland.lib.nc.us
 
Check out our Reader's Corner Blog: http://ccpl-readerscorner.blogspot.com <http://ccpl-readerscorner.blogspot.com/>  
 
 

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org on behalf of Marita Squires
Sent: Thu 9/3/2009 11:19 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] reference weeding



I am just about finished with this huge task (and thank you everyone
for all the help and advice you have given me over this past year),
just a couple hundred more books to make a decision on. I have to
admit, sometimes my decision has been based solely on whether or not
the book was cataloged. My thinking is that if it ain't in the
catalog, no one knows it's here! (this library computerized more than
15 years ago, so these books have sat at least that long)

My question today is  "Masterplots; comprehensive library edition: two
thousand and ten plot stories and essay reviews from the world's fine
literature - Magill, Frank Northen, 1907-"  This particular set is
from 1968 (though someone recently donated a 1972 set to our Friends
group).  There are 12 books, they take up a fair amount of space, and
this particular set is available at one of our branches, and something
a bit newer at one of our partner libraries. However, I've got one
co-worker saying that we really must keep this set. I told her that we
are just going to have to disagree on this, as she was not convincing
me that we needed them. I did say I would ask and see what others say.
 So oh wise ones, what say you, keep, replace with donated set or
toss?
--

Rita Squires  --
The Dalles-Wasco Co. Public Library
722 Court St, The Dalles OR 97058

"Reading a really good book is like reading a part of the author's
heart."  (Kevin Frederick - my 9 year old son, after reading the last
of the Indian in the Cupboard series)


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