Weeding is Fundamental Revisited

Key takeaways

Book weeding is a necessary process in libraries to maintain space for new books.
The Loma Prieta earthquake challenged the operational stability of the San Francisco Public Library and its collection management.
The MUSTY acronym provides a framework for librarians to decide which books can be discarded in a thoughtful and accountable manner.
The rapid weeding process after the earthquake sparked a rebellion among librarians, leading to the formation of guerrilla librarians.
Nicholson Baker highlighted the importance of archiving library records through his activism, demonstrating the complexity of book weeding.
The controversy surrounding the weeding led to changes in library policy, ensuring future practices would involve more community engagement and thoughtful preservation.

Summary

Introduction to Weeding in Libraries

The podcast dives into the practice of "weeding," which refers to libraries removing books from their collections to free up space for new acquisitions. This is a common practice in libraries due to the finite amount of space available.

The Loma Prieta Earthquake and Its Impact on the San Francisco Public Library

On October 17, 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck, causing significant damage to the San Francisco Public Library. Half a million books were displaced, and the library's immediate reaction involved assessing which books to keep and which to discard.

Guidelines for Weeding: The MUSTY Acronym

Libraries utilize a systematic approach to weeding books, employing the MUSTY acronym: Misleading, Ugly, Superseded, Trivial, and Your Collection Has No Use for This Book. This helps librarians make informed decisions about which books to keep and which to remove.

The Controversial Weeding After the Earthquake

Post-earthquake, the library management initiated a drastic weeding process, abandoning established guidelines. A new method used colored slips to indicate book status, leading to a chaotic and rapid removal of books without adequate oversight.

The Emergence of Guerrilla Librarians

In response to the rapid weeding, a group of librarians, dubbed 'guerrilla librarians,' emerged. They resisted management's orders and took covert actions to protect valuable books from being discarded, confronting the lack of accountability in the weeding process.

Nicholson Baker's Activism and the Legal Battle

Nicholson Baker, a writer and library activist, became involved in the controversy, ultimately suing the library for access to the old card catalog. This battle highlighted the importance of preserving records of the books that were removed.

The Legacy of the Weeding Controversy

The aftermath of the weeding controversy prompted a reassessment of library practices, leading to new policies to connect with other libraries and develop strategies for maintaining a relevant and useful collection.

Show notes

Libraries get rid of books all the time. There are so many new books coming in every day and only a finite amount of library space. The practice of freeing up library space is called weeding. When the main branch of the San Francisco Public Library was damaged by an earthquake 1989, the argument over which books need to be weeded, and how they were chosen for removal, reached fever pitch.

This episode originally aired on May 14, 2019.

Weeding is Fundamental

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