In 2016, the Cedar Rapids Public Library took on the task of heavily weeding a large and outdated children’s collection at its small branch library and monitored its circulation change. After weeding over 3,000 items from the picture book collection alone, the library experienced a consistent rise in circulation despite fewer operating hours than the year previously. The library has since regularly weeded low-circulating collections, floated certain collections between branches, and allocated the materials budget to maintain a current and patron-driven collection without overburdening staff. Weeding is an essential part of the life cycle of an item in a library but can be an overwhelming endeavor, physically and occasionally emotionally, for passionate library staff. This session will offer collection teams a personalized account of the process and resulting success of such a task and provide advice for libraries looking to undertake such a project.
