The Lean Reference Collection: Improving Functionality Through Selection and Weeding

Nolan, Christopher W.

doi:10.5860/crl_52_01_80

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Cluttering this file with rarely or never used sources merely dilutes the effectiveness of the remaining useful sources. 24 His question is the one that this study forced the CIU researchers to grapple with. What makes a book a reference book?…”

Section: Electronic Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining Use of an Academic Library Reference Collection

Colson¹

2007

Reference &Amp; User Services Quarterly

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Section: Electronic Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining Use of an Academic Library Reference Collection

Colson¹

2007

Reference &Amp; User Services Quarterly

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“…Schlachter's (1988) comments are still applicable today because reference collection weeding is still only lightly touched on in the literature. Nolan (1991) provided a compelling case for weeding the reference collection and offered guidelines for librarians planning a review of their collection to help them consider what a reference collection should look like and what materials it should contain. This work is especially useful in that it provides a structure to reviewing the reference collection while the details are left up to each library, allowing the staff to make decisions based on the needs of their particular patrons.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nolan (1991) provided a compelling description by librarians and patrons alike of the importance of the reference collection as the place of authoritative answers. He used this definition of the reference collection as reasoning for its proper maintenance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weeding the Reference Collection: A Case Study of Collection Management

Francis

2012

The Reference Librarian

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The reference collection holds an important place within the library. The proper maintenance of this collection through weeding is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of collection management. This article offers a case study describing a reference collection weeding project, including the development of a reference collection policy, a review of standing orders, the goals and outcomes of the review, and a discussion of the benefits of the project. INTRODUCTIONWeeding is a critical, yet often undesired project performed by librarians. With the daily demands of patron questions, database upkeep, and the latest webinar, it is often easier to ignore the quiet collection of books waiting on the shelves. Unfortunately, as time passes the currency and overall quality of the collection deteriorates, with the end result of patrons ignoring the library and obtaining their information from online sources. To counter this slow decay of the reference collection, it is imperative that libraries undertake scheduled periods of weeding.The reference collection is held in high esteem by librarianship. Nolan (1991) provided a compelling description by librarians and patrons alike of the importance of the reference collection as the place of authoritative answers. He used this definition of the reference collection as reasoning for 219 220 M. Francis its proper maintenance. The reference collection remains a standard within the library field as a location to quickly access those items that are consulted to find background information and data. It is even more critical that the reference collection provide efficient, clean access because it is often the face of the library due to its prominent position. It contains the first books patrons see and it represents the library to everyone who enters.However, use of the reference collection has been changing. More reference questions are answered through online searches, and an increasing number of reference works are becoming available electronically. Directories and books of quotations have been consumed by websites. Discussions on the changing face of the reference collection from print to electronic can be found throughout the library literature (). Use within the reference collection has become more specialized, and the materials within it must reflect that fact. This change in the type of questions asked at the reference desk has been discussed in articles by Fialkoff (2006) and Shonrock (2007). As the use of the reference collection changes, it is important for the collection to match that use. A bloated reference collection focused on the needs of patrons from 20 years ago offers little service to the current patrons.

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Reference in transition: a case study in reference collection development

Detmering

Sproles

2012

Collection Building

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Purpose -The purpose of this article is to describe the ongoing process of weeding, streamlining, and transforming a very large, print-based reference collection at the University of Louisville's William F. Ekstrom Library, focusing in particular on the various issues involved in developing a more timely, focused, and electronic-oriented collection. Design/methodology/approach -Over the years, the Ekstrom Library reference collection evolved into a large, neglected, print-based collection that ignored current space needs and user preferences for digital sources. To address this, the reference department developed a new, cooperative approach to reference collection development and weeding to improve the user experience and address serious space issues. Findings -To achieve a more usable reference collection, the reference department needed to rethink the philosophy behind the collection and completely rewrite the collection development policy. These changes have facilitated the creation of a smaller, more user-friendly collection that embraces the digital environment. Originality/value -The article highlights problems and approaches to refocusing a reference collection in a time of transition, as physical library spaces continue to evolve and the value of a traditional reference collection appears increasingly uncertain.

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The Lean Reference Collection: Improving Functionality Through Selection and Weeding

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

Determining Use of an Academic Library Reference Collection

Determining Use of an Academic Library Reference Collection

Weeding the Reference Collection: A Case Study of Collection Management

Reference in transition: a case study in reference collection development

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