Weeding Popular Materials Collections (Webinar)

March 4, 1 p.m., presented by Karen Toonen

When it comes to books, we all like to buy! However, selecting materials is only half of the collection development process. Book hoarding does not create a useful collection. Weeding, or deselecting materials, must receive equal and continuous attention as selection to have a truly patron driven collection that serves its community.

As increasing demands tax libraries’ limited resources, every item in a physical collection must justify its shelf space; while every item, both physical and digital, vies for patrons’ time and attention. We’ll discuss practical advice for weeing popular materials collections for youth or adults across formats. Along the way, I’ll debunk some popular weeding excuses.

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

  • Articulate to internal and external stakeholders that weeding equally as important as important to selection to collection development
  • Implement logical, rigorous weeding doctrines within their popular materials collections
  • Weed to create space for new collections, highlight materials, and increase circulation with confidence
  • Promote patron driven collection policies and revitalize collections

Who will Benefit from this Program:

  • All staff that interact with the collection and the public
  • Staff who select for the collection
  • Staff who maintain the collection

Online Registration
NOTE: Access to PCI provided by the Arkansas State Library is available for current Arkansas library employees only.

Karen Toonen – Biography

Karen Toonen is the Collection Services Manager at Naperville Public Library, the second highest circulating public library in Illinois. Throughout her time as a Readers Advisory Assistant, an Adult Services Librarian, and in Technical Services, Karen has remained focused on collections.

Karen has presented extensively on weeding and other collection development aspects at the regional, state, and national level. Her service on the Adult Reading Round Table’s Steering Committee has not only allowed her to learn about weeding from colleagues across northern Illinois but also informed her philosophy that weeding and readers advisory go hand in hand.


The views expressed in webinars provided by PCI do not necessarily reflect the views or official policies of the State of Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Education, or the Arkansas State Library.