Objective
The Libraries must withdraw some materials and move others in order to ensure that sufficient collections space is available for projected acquisition over the coming years; immediate activities focus on a five year plan; with ongoing reviews and updates targetting a fifteen year plan in place.
Impetus
The Libraries need space to ensure room for approximately 5,000 to 6,000 new print volumes per year for five years, or between 25,000 to 30,000 books and bound journals. The approximate number of 7 shelf bookcases to accommodate this number of books is between 100 to 150, with additional space to move materials.
At present, the book shelves in Howe Library are approximately 85% full, with most areas overcrowded and gaps in some areas that are not growing. If all of the books were dispersed with an optimal shelving layout for browsing and shelving, it would occupy 113% of the available space. We need to make enough room to house the books we currently have appropriately and have space to add the expected new ones.
Future Factors
The book collections are not a primary target in this project, but some reduction will be achieved by continuation of paused past weeding projects and routine weeding practices. Some serials are also shelved in the book collection but will be considered using serial criteria.
Canadian Government Documents
State or Provincial Government Documents; excluding Vermont, bordering areas, and topics of key interest
Duplicates
Textbook Older Editions
Obsolete Materials
Misplaced Excluded Serials
Dana Health Sciences Library
The Reference collection may undergo weeding for specific items identified as part of the other ongoing weeding activities, or as Liaison Librarians identify the need.
These activities may be concurrent with the other weed, but are not part of the same project.
The bound serial volumes in Howe and the LRA are the major targets in this project.
Step 1
Space needs projection and space measurements
Step 2
Create weeding lists
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
New Backfile Purchases 2023
The Libraries purchased a number of individual and collection backfiles in May and June 2023 to include in this project. We chose them using these factors:
Title Lists