Against the Grain Volume 28 | Issue 4 Article 13 2016 The eedinW g Planner--How a Research Library Weeded Approximately 2.76 Miles of Print Materials from the Shelves to Repurpose Library Space OR Much Ado About the New Normal Cristina Caminita LSU Libraries, [email protected] Andrea Herbert LSU Libraries, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/atg Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Recommended Citation Caminita, Cristina and Herbert, Andrea (2016) "The eW eding Planner--How a Research Library Weeded Approximately 2.76 Miles of Print Materials from the Shelves to Repurpose Library Space OR Much Ado About the New Normal," Against the Grain: Vol. 28: Iss. 4, Article 13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7771/2380-176X.7457 This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. created considerable friction between us and mation Literacy 5, no. 2:174-186. Library, You Want to Do What? ... the Technical Services department, possibly Information Science & Technology Abstracts from page 33 risking the entire project and doing a disservice (LISTA) with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed to the community we serve. By being open to July 15, 2015). more realistic timeline for the creation of our compromise, listening, and considering oppos- O’English, Lorena, J. G. Matthews, new shelving location. ing views, we overcame a number of challenges and Elizabeth B. Lindsay. 2006. Graphic Finally, we recommend being realistic that could otherwise have derailed our project Novels in Academic Libraries: From Maus about what is possible at your library. Most completely. It is good to have vision, but you to Manga and Beyond. Journal of Academic importantly, be flexible and willing to compro- must sometimes compromise on the details if Librarianship 32, no. 2:173-182. Library, mise. We began with the goal of creating a new you are to make it a reality. Information Science & Technology Abstracts graphic novel shelving location by the end of References (LISTA) with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed 2015. Now, though, it looks like our project July 15, 2015). will not be completed until the end of 2016, Downey, Elizabeth M. 2009. Graphic Toren, Beth J. 2011. Bam! Pow! Graphic a full year later than what we had originally Novels in Curriculum and Instruction Collec- Novels Fight Stereotypes in Academic Li- hoped for. We do not see this as a failure, how- tions. Reference & User Services Quarterly 49, braries: Supporting, Collecting, Promoting. ever. Libraries, particularly academic libraries, no. 2:181-188. Library, Information Science & Technical Services Quarterly 28, no. 1:55-69. are inherently political institutions and compro- Technology Abstracts (LISTA) with Full Text, Social Science and Humanities Library, Taylor mise is sometimes essential to accomplishing EBSCOhost (accessed October 7, 2015). & Francis (accessed July 15, 2015). your goals. If we had chosen to stand our Hoover, Steven. 2011. The Case for ground on the completion date, it would have Graphic Novels. Communications in Infor- The Weeding Planner: How a Research Library Weeded Approximately 2.76 Miles of Print Materials from the Shelves to Repurpose Library Space OR Much Ado About the New Normal Cristina Caminita (Head, Research and Instruction Services, LSU Libraries) <[email protected]> and Andrea Hebert (Human Sciences, Education, and Distance Learning Librarian, LSU Libraries) <[email protected]> n the past four decades, academic libraries makerspaces, group meeting rooms, presen- acquiring the best journal and eBook pack- have changed from print-collection focused tation rooms, meditation rooms, nap rooms, ages at the best price in an environment of Ispaces to resource and services-driven orga- writing centers, academic success centers, decreased budget allocations for acquisition nizations that respond and adapt to the chang- information technology services, and other of print materials. The roles of the traditional ing needs of users, the developing technologies vital services, such as student advising offices, reference librarian subject specialist have also that improve access to information sources, and are common occupiers of library space, with changed. Subject specialists are encouraged the increasing costs of acquiring and providing print collections being weeded and then moved to redirect focus to engagement, outreach, access to those sources. In the immediate post- off site into remote storage or into automated and instruction.6 The new ACRL Information World War II years, academic retrieval centers. Literacy Framework for Higher Education is a libraries adopted the mission of Take a sampling of ARL or document of its time: the frames focus on core purchasing vast print collections ASERL libraries and see the concepts regarding how information is used to support the expansion of the repurposing of space and and created, how students consume and create research focus of universities. offsite storage of print col- information, and how students as consumers As the internet developed into lections happening: the and creators of information evaluate and con- the World Wide Web in the University of Central textualize information sources.7 1990s, print indices gave way Florida’s automated Engaging the New Normal to electronically searchable in- retrieval center (ARC) dices, which in turn evolved into is under construction2; LSU Libraries has responded to this trend our current full-text academic the state of Florida has of repurposing library space. Information databases. As more scholarly resources be- embarked on an ambitious shared low-use print Technology Services has been a resident in came available online full text, reliance on print collection storage facility among its academic the Libraries for some time, as has the Center collections decreased. The popular “Teens libraries (FLARE)3; and the glorious new Hunt for Academic Success’s (CAS) tutorial center. React to Encyclopedias” YouTube video is a Library at North Carolina State University Both of these services occupy space on the simplistic and unscientific indication of our promotes use of its robotic book delivery sys- Libraries’ first floor, and the conversion of current college student’s familiarity with using tem, bookBot.4 At a recent conference meeting, space into a large learning commons/computer print resources.1 It can be assumed that future a collections management department head lab area in the early 2000s required a removal academic library users will rely less and less commented that she foresees print collections of print indices to the stacks or to compact on print, and that collection development de- focusing on the arts and humanities, since shelving. In late spring of 2015, university cisions will focus more and more on acquiring researchers in science and social science favor administration decided on the site for the move electronic information sources. electronic access to information, an observa- of the 8,415 square foot MATH Lab: the east The use of library space has shifted from tion supported by the 2015 ITHAKA S+R wing of Middleton Library’s third floor. a storage space for collections to a space for Faculty Survey results.5 Clearing materials from the east wing in students to learn and to make. Multi-purpose Collection development teams now focus eight months was an enormous project. The digital classrooms, collaborative study spaces, on building robust electronic collections and continued on page 36 34 Against the Grain / September 2016 <http://www.against-the-grain.com> The Weeding Planner ... from page 34 against thepeople grain profile project was managed by multiple members of the library staff, including the heads of Facilities, Collection Development, Collection Manage- Head, Research and Instruction Services, LSU Libraries ment, and Research and Instruction Services 141 Middleton Library, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 (RIS). Librarians cleared the equivalent of 5,000 Phone: (225) 578-5433 • Fax: (225) 578-9432 shelves of materials, equaling approximately <[email protected]> • http://www.lib.lsu.edu/about/staff/cristina-caminita 2.76 miles of cleared shelving space. The areas weeded included Library of Congress PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND ACTIVITIES: I’ve been active in ACRL’s Science and call number ranges H through PN, with the Technology Section and currently serve as one of six directors for the United States Agricul- exception of the M-Music and Books on Music range. Two of those ranges, N — Fine Arts and tural Information Network (USAIN). I was selected as an ALA Emerging Leader in 2013. P — Language and Literature, covered subject FAMILY: My husband Kurt, my five-year-old sonThomas , and Maggie, my dog. areas whose publishing conventions favor print, IN MY SPARE TIME: I work out, I study languages, I hang out with my family, I walk my dog. making the weeding of items from these areas FAVORITE BOOKS: Neal Stephenson’s The Baroque Cycle, Hilary Mantel’s A Place of more of a challenge than economics (HB-HC) Greater Safety and her Wolf Hall novels, tons of nonfiction. or finance (HG), where large serials runs dupli- Bill Bryson is a favorite author. cated in electronic resources were withdrawn to clear large swathes of shelf space. A contracted PHILOSOPHY: Everyone else is making it up as they go moving team shifted the remaining items around along, too. the building as shelves were emptied. HOW/WHERE DO I SEE THE INDUSTRY IN FIVE YEARS: In addition to clearing space for the MATH Continuing to change and innovate, and finding serendip- Lab move, the Education Resources room was itous victories among the challenges, particularly in aca- slated for conversion to a graduate student demic library environments. The fast pace of technological change requires library entrepreneurs and innovators to study and work space. Materials in the room Cristina Caminita included Louisiana state-approved textbooks keep up and take risks, and that is a challenge to the slower for elementary and high schools, monographs pace of decision making and risk taking in academia.