A Dental Library Book Collection Intervention: From Diagnosis to Cure

ABSTRACT

This article summarizes the rationale, resources, and process used by Indiana University School of Dentistry Library (IUSDL) staff to undertake a comprehensive book collection intervention (a.k.a. book weeding project). The process of diagnosing, developing, and executing a comprehensive book weeding project can be challenging, labor intensive, and time-consuming, but space scarcity and the need to update several collection areas compelled staff to undertake the project. Like the dentist, staff took a patient (i.e., collection) history, made diagnoses, then developed and executed a treatment (i.e., action) plan. Also, like the dentist who depends on appropriate knowledge and instrumentation, so did the library staff select and utilize appropriate bibliometric strategies, measures, and resources to effectively facilitate the process.

KEYWORDS:

• Dental library
• dentistry
• collection management
• weeding
• books
• deacquisition

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