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PCI Webinar with Karen Toonen Weeding Popular Materials Collections Online
When it comes to books, we all like to buy! However, selecting materials is only half of the collection development process. Book hoarding does not create a useful collection. Weeding, or deselecting materials, must receive equal and continuous attention as selection to have a truly patron driven collection that serves its community.
As increasing demands tax libraries’ limited resources, every item in a physical collection must justify its shelf space; while every item, both physical and digital, vies for patrons’ time and attention. We’ll discuss practical advice for weeing popular materials collections for youth or adults across formats. Along the way, I’ll debunk some popular weeding excuses.
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
- articulate to internal and external stakeholders that weeding equally as important as important to selection to collection development
- implement logical, rigorous weeding doctrines within their popular materials collections
- weed to create space for new collections, highlight materials, and increase circulation with confidence
- promote patron driven collection policies and revitalize collections
Who will Benefit from this Program:
- All staff that interact with the collection and the public
- Staff who select for the collection
- Staff who maintain the collection
- Date:
- Wednesday, March 4, 2026
- Time:
- 2:00pm - 3:00pm
- Time Zone:
- Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
- Sponsor:
- Southern Maryland Regional Library Association (SMRLA)
- Online:
- This is an online event.
- Event URL:
- https://zoom.us/webinar/register/4617645962543/WN_lAwnpEjZTCKKJotuDMckgQ#/registration
- Audience:
- Library Staff Library Staff - Public Libraries
- Categories:
- Core Library Skills
Part of PCI Webinars, sessions will be recorded and available on our Maryland Libraries Training Niche Academy archives following the session.
Library staff from Maryland public libraries only. Please register using your Maryland library staff email showing your library system's authenticated domain name. Generic gmail addresses will not have access to the archives.
This project is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act Administered by the Maryland State Library.