Must Read Weed – Nonfiction Series: Opposing Viewpoints

October 21, 2016 ccpsmediaspecialists Weeding

Today’s Must Read Weed book series is:

opposing-viewpoints

Opposing Viewpoints
Greenhaven Press, Gale

Why weed this book series?

Opposing Viewpoints provides current-issue research materials covering controversial topics. Each title provides pro and con expert opinions to provide a complete picture of a debate.

Because these books are used for research, the books should be weeded regularly and replaced if needed. The publisher updates the titles every 2 to 5 years.

Weeding Guidelines

Nonfiction book about current, controversial topics should provide the most recent research sources possible. Nonfiction books such as the Opposing Viewpoints series should be retained for 5 years. If an topic has an updated edition and is still of research interest, consider replacing the older edition with the newer edition. Also, be cautious when purchasing titles about current, controversial topics to ensure they have been published as recently as possible.

Weeding Strategy

Search your library catalog for the series titles, such as “Opposing Viewpoints,” and sort by date from oldest to newest.

A Note About Our Must Read Weed Selections: Each title included in this series is within more than a few school media centers. Please check your collection for this title and similar titles and ensure these titles are weeded.

Must Read Weed – FIC / E – Chicken Pox

January 27, 2016 ccpsmediaspecialists Weeding

Today’s Must Read Weed book is:

Itchy, Itchy Chicken Pox
by Grace Maccarone
Copyright 1992

Why weed this book?

This popular book no longer has a place in our collections since the introduction of the Chicken Pox vaccine in the mid 1990s. The summary of the book states:

“Peppy rhymes present the humorous side to a common ailment.”

With the vaccine in regular use, Chicken Pox is no longer a common ailment. A child reading the book would have the false impression that they could contract Chicken Pox. Titles with similar subject matter should be factually accurate and up to date to show the current reality.

Weeding Guidelines

Despite the broad age guidelines given for fiction and easy books, the subject matter can still be outdated. In this case, a medical advance caused the book to become out of date.

Geopolitical Changes Since 1990

November 17, 2015March 11, 2022 ccpsmediaspecialists Weeding

Books about countries in the library collection should have a Copyright Date no older than 10 to 15 years. However, some geopolitical changes may have happened more recently.

The list below shows geopolitical changes since 1989 that can be used to identify books within the library collection that are in need of weeding and replacement. Books published close to or before the Year of Change were printed before the geopolitical change took place.

Below the list are resources that can be used to identify the past and present nations of the world along with a link to unrepresented nations or peoples that may be involved in future geopolitical changes.

Year of Change	If you find….	Replace with Titles Related to….
2019	Macedonia	North Macedonia
2018	Swaziland	Eswatini
2016	Czech Republic	Czechia
2011	Sudan	Sudan, South Sudan
2008	Serbia	Kosovo, Serbia
2006	Serbia and Montenegro	Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia
2003	Yugoslavia	Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia (Note: The breakup of Yugoslavia began in 1992 but the name was used until 2003.)
2002	Indonesia	Indonesia, Timor-Leste
1997	Western Samoa	Samoa
1997	Zaire	Democratic Republic of the Congo
1993	Czechoslovakia	Czech Republic, Slovakia
1993	Ethiopia	Eritrea, Ethiopia
1991	Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union)	Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
1990	East Germany, West Germany	Germany
1990	North Yemen, South Yemen	Yemen
1990	South West Africa	Namibia
1989	Burma	Myanmar

Past Nations

Maps in Time

Present Nations

CIA World Factbook

Unrepresented Nations and Peoples

Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

Weeding Based on Processing Trends

November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 ccpsmediaspecialists Weeding

Processing trends within a book collection can help identify outdated materials. Once identified, these processing trends can be used to visually inspect the collection and identify books that may need to be weeded. Below are examples of processing trends that may be present in a library collection:

Outdated materials may:

have call numbers written in pen or imprinted on the spine.
have call numbers with one letter rather than three.
have library card pockets.
lack reading program labels.
be stamped with a former name of the school.
have barcode labels affixed in a different location.
be bound differently.

The file below includes images of shelves in need of weeding. Open the file and look for processing trends that could help identify outdated materials.

Processing Trends Shelf Examples

Must Read Weed – 027: Libraries

October 12, 2015 ccpsmediaspecialists Weeding

Today’s Must Read Weed book is:

Check it Out! The Book About Libraries
by Gail Gibbons
Copyright 1985

Why weed this book?

Although this is a well-known introduction to libraries, the content has not been updated beyond the 1980s. Along with good information, these terms are used within the text to describe what you can find in a library:

card catalog
records
tapes
microfilm equipment

There are more recent suitable titles to replace this well-loved book.

Weeding Guidelines

027 is an age-sensitive division. Age-sensitive divisions such as this should be retained for 5 years and checked often for outdated information.

Must Read Weed – 940s to 990s: History of Countries

October 12, 2015October 21, 2016 ccpsmediaspecialists Weeding

Today’s Must Read Weed book is:

Why weed this book?

Not only is this book out of the recommended copyright retention guidelines, but the country no longer exists.

Although this copy is from the 1980s, you may find copyrights that are more recent.

Between 1991 and 2008, Yugoslavia became what in 2015 are the countries of:

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Kosovo
Macedonia
Montenegro
Serbia
Slovenia

In this 1984 edition, the first chapter describes Yugoslavia as “A Glorious Combination.” The history of the region since then tells another story.

Weeding Guidelines

Nonfiction books about countries must accurately represent the current state of the nations of the world. Nonfiction country books should be retained for 10 to 15 years. Be watchful for countries that no longer exist, have been renamed, have combined, or have split apart. Also be cautious when purchasing titles for countries in turmoil as this instability will cause the book to become irrelevant quickly. Finally, use nonfiction book series to your advantage. If you find one book in a series that is in need of weeding, it is likely the whole series needs to be weeded.

Need to know if a country exists? Refer to The World Factbook.

Must Read Weed – Biography

September 28, 2015September 29, 2015 ccpsmediaspecialists Weeding

Today’s Must Read Weed book is:

Why weed this book?

Not only is this book out of the recommended copyright retention guidelines, but much has happened since its publication.

This book was published shortly after Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union.

Interestingly, the last paragraph of the book states,

“We don’t expect to see any big changes in Soviet politics…”

Of course, who would have guessed how untrue that statement was in 1985.

Weeding Guidelines

Biographies should support the curriculum and student interests. Biographies should be retained for 5 to 10 years. Be watchful for people who are growing in fame as those biographies become outdated quickly.