Rabies in Animals and Man
West
1976
Poor Rover! He is foaming at the mouth! I wonder where he is headed? I have a morbid curiousity about this poor creature. This book is mildly interesting but I wonder if it is still good information. The illustrations aren’t that interesting and all I can think about is that scene from Old Yeller.
Your dogged librarian,
Mary
→ 5 CommentsCategories: weeding
How to trim, groom and show your dog
Saunders
1963
I think Blanche looks like my grandmother from her portrait in the 1940’s. (I love her name - how long since you heard of someone named Blanche?) I like dogs, but my experience extends to episodes of the Dog Whisperer. Dog books, especially on care and training, are probably the most popular of all the nonfiction topics in our library. Everyone checks these books out, from kids to adults. This particular copy had not been checked out in 3 years, and for a dog book that is just way too low. However, I will defer to dog people out there if Blanche is indeed the gold standard. This poor book just looks doggone awful too! (I know, that was too easy!)
Mary
→ 16 CommentsCategories: weeding
Dating
Lipke
1971
This lovely gem comes to us from the super cutting edge youth section in an unamed public library. When I picked up this title I couldn’t tell what the front cover was illustrating. Then I realized it was some groovy, abstract art showing us some wonderful couples “dating”. Need more examples? Here are more groovy pictures:
So what are these people doing anyway?
Mary
→ 11 CommentsCategories: weeding
Adult Braces In a Gourmet World
A consumer’s guide to Straight Teeth
Strindlund
1988
This is yet another book title that I just can’t believe someone said was worthy of publishing! How much can you really say about straight teeth? I guess I should actually read it and find out. I really wish I had circulation data on this type of thing. Okay, so maybe this library had a really big interest in teeth, but why didn’t they weed it after about 5 or 6 years? Anything marketed as a consumer’s guide is going to be automatically time sensitive. Isn’t this a bit “long in the tooth”? Sorry, I couldn’t resist!
Mary
→ 6 CommentsCategories: weeding
What to do when the Russians come
A survivor’s guide
Conquest
1985
Completing our trifecta of red scare material, here is a great book describing how you too can survive the occupation of the Soviets. This particular book needs to be in an archive since it really does capture the hysteria of the cold war. (Did you notice one of the author’s name?) I wonder if these guys thought about a second edition after 1989?
Mary
→ 20 CommentsCategories: weeding
How the communists use religion
Bundy
1966
Okay commrades, this is yet another gem plucked from a small public library. This poor book had definitely seen better days. The cover was damaged and the book had a serious “odor”. Contents not withstanding, I think we can do better in both preservation efforts and in providing current information. In my cursory examination of this title, this book suggests that the Soviets had a great deal of control or influence on the Church. Anyone know the background of this title?
Mary
→ 17 CommentsCategories: weeding
You can trust the communists (to do exactly as they say!)
Schwarz
1960
Fellow library comrades: I know I will hear from everyone about how this is an important piece of culture and we should never weed this kind of material. Heck, I am old enough to appreciate the communist threat. (I even had to sign a loyalty oath in the early 80’s as part of my job! – Go America!) This book has a place in an archive or a museum, not in a popular materials collection for a small public library. I think I am safe in saying that by 1989 this book lacked some punch. In case you really want to feel old, today’s college students were probably born after the Berlin Wall came down.
Mary
→ 30 CommentsCategories: weeding
The State-of-the Art Robot Catalog
Berger
1984
I can’t believe this is still on a shelf somewhere.
Very cool subject matter and I know this would be a hit if it was more contemporary, preferably from this century! Maybe, folks when the title says “state of the art” we should probably think about weeding it after a few years.
I am also ready to just drop some Battlestar Galactica references in this post too, since Holly loves to tease me about my love of sci fi!
(See honey, these are proto-cylons!)
Here is some of the best stuff:
What the heck is that thing in the top picture? Is it me or is this stuff dated for the 80’s? Star Trek (even the original series) had better stuff and so did Lost in Space.
Robotically yours,
Mary
→ 14 CommentsCategories: weeding
More than one ALB spy has alerted us to this problem and I am happy to provide a link to Philadelphia Free Library. The October closing date is heading our way so please help in anyway you can! Go libraries!
Thanks!
Mary and Holly
Philadelphia Free Library: http://www.freelibrary.org/
Closing details : http://libwww.freelibrary.org/closing/
City of Philadelphia http://www.phila.gov/
→ 10 CommentsCategories: 1
Why Our Children Drink
Addeo
1975
Both my children thought it appropriate that I post such a title. I think they meant to insult me! What awful children! Perhaps the sequel, “Why parents drink” should be in order. (Humorless reader alert: I am kidding!) But I digress! I think it is the dated material and ugly cover. To think, someone sent it to the bindery in the late 80’s. Again this lovely book is from a medium public library-not an archive or university collection. It is a weeder, folks!
Mary
→ 11 CommentsCategories: weeding
