Collection Analysis

             For this collection analysis, I worked on weeding the nonfiction area of the children’s department at the Derry Public Library in Derry, NH. Derry serves a population of about 1,739 elementary students, 1,188 middle school students, and around 90 preschoolers who all utilize the DPL’s children’s room (NHDOE, 2016). Based on lengthy discussions with both the children’s department head and the assistant director, the children’s nonfiction collection has not been weeded in many years and most of the materials need serious updating. Much of the children’s nonfiction collection was published between 1980 and 2010, with a median publication year of about 1996. Under direct supervision of the children’s department head and the assistant director, I sorted through a total of 136 print materials in the 900s section of the nonfiction collection. The children’s department head is new to the position and to the library in general, so this was a learning experience for both of us.

             I used the MUSTY/MUSTIE weeding criteria for this project. The 900s contained mostly geography and world history materials, ranging in condition from decrepit to pristine. Most of the items that were in fantastic condition looked that way because they had remained untouched for many years. The main problem with this collection was the amount of dated materials and the lack of updates. According to the assistant director, who oversees all weeding procedures, the children’s nonfiction collection has not been weeded or updated in many years; no one could actually remember the last time it had been looked at. When I approached the assistant director about this project, she agreed that I should be allowed to assist the children’s librarian in this process.

             When looking for items to add to the collection, I first checked the DPL’s databases to see if we already had anything that might be useful in this area of the nonfiction collection. The only database that we have for children that address the areas of geography and history is the Encyclopedia Britannica Kids edition, which is a wonderful resource that presents information in an accessible manner for children. Next, I checked the item report for the 900s section of the children’s nonfiction collection, marking every item that had not been checked out since 2012 or before. Many of these items also had publication dates in the 1990s or early 2000s. I compared the publication date and the last check out date with the total number of check outs to determine which items would be weeded and which ones I should replace. To make sure I was choosing the correct materials for our collection, I used reviews from both Common Sense Media, School Library Journal, and Amazon to influence my choices.

             I ended up finding ten items to add to this part of the children’s collection to both update the outdated materials and add multimedia materials that were both interactive and relevant. Both apps I chose can be used on our iPads in the children’s room and Skybrary can be used either on an iPad or a computer, allowing it more versatility. These multimedia materials cover a wide range of topics within the subject area and I think they would be a huge asset to the library and the children’s department. I attempted to find other multimedia materials to add, such as audio books and computer games, but was unsuccessful in my search. I decided to get replacements for outdated materials related to explorers, countries in Europe, atlases, and wonders of the world. These items contain more illustrations and larger print which will aid in overall comprehension for more age groups. I used the Horning text to evaluate the print-based materials for quality and size of illustrations, size of typeface, and vocabulary, among other evaluation techniques. I’m confident that the better visual appeal of the newer materials will entice children to read and learn more about these topics.

             This weeding experience differed from others that I’ve done. I weeded the teen collection a year ago as well as the adult nonfiction collection, which were a lot more labor intensive. Much like the case with the children’s nonfiction collection, the adult nonfiction collection had not been weeded in a couple of years and was in serious need of some updates. I think the main difference between weeding a fiction collection versus weeding a nonfiction collection is that you must consider subject matter in the nonfiction collection, especially with topics that could become obsolete or change, such as politics or healthcare. Almost all the children’s nonfiction materials were outdated by many years, so they definitely needed an update. I believe I had an easier time with this project because of my previous experience weeding more complex collections and working alongside more experienced coworkers during the process. I’ve learned so much about weeding through both studying the theory and field experience that I am almost confident in my ability to do it on my own in the future.

*Items to add to the collection:

Title	Author	Format	Justification
Barefoot World Atlas	Amphio Limited	App	Interactive replacement for the geography/atlas collection. 3-4 star review on iTunes, Common Sense
One Globe Kids- Friends Around the World	N/A	App	Interactive replacement for the geography collection. 5-star rating on Common Sense and iTunes
Skybrary	Reading Rainbow*	Website/App	Interactive reading covering many subjects, including history and geography; associated with Reading Rainbow; 5-star review on Common Sense, 4.5 stars on iTunes
Europe (True Books)	Newman, Sandra	Book/Print	Replacement of our outdated copy; more recent publication date.
Not for Parents Great Britain: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know	Lonely Planet Kids	Book/Paperback	Replacement for our outdated copy; good reviews; includes fun facts and a more interactive format.
Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders	Foer, Joshua Thuras, Dylan Morton, Ella	Book/Hardcover	Update for our atlas collection; excellent reviews; exploratory format; combination of pictures and text.
National Geographic Kids World Atlas	National Geographic	Book/Paperback	Same as above. Other National Geographic materials circulate well.
DK Eyewitness Books: Wonders of the World	DK	Book/Paperback (or library binding if available)	Update for the section of 910s on geography/wonders of the world; newer; more visually appealing; series circulates well.
The Quest for Z: The True Story of Explorer Percy Fawcett and a Lost City in the Amazon	Pizzoli, Greg	Book/Hardcover	Addition to the “explorers” section of the 900s; new publication; many illustrations.
The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found	Sandler, Martin	Book/Hardcover	Newer publication; local history; combines pirates, shipwrecks, and explorer topics.

References

Common Sense Media. Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Ford, D. B. (2015). To weed or not to weed? School Library Journal, 61(8), 13. Retrieved from http://uri.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.uri.idm.oclc.org/docview/1700140810?accountid=28991

Horning, K. T. (2010). From cover to cover: Evaluating and reviewing children’s books. New York: Collins

Minsker, M. (n.d.). The best children’s reading and book apps. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/ your-child-technology/best-childrens-reading-and-book-apps

NH Department of Education. District Profile: Derry Cooperative. Retrieved from http://my.doe.nh.gov/Profiles/profile.aspx?d=131&tab=