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.
