It’s weeding time at the library. Library weeding is just like the garden variety. Pull out the undesirables to allow the really good ones to strut their stuff and to allow space to add whatever new comes along.

For many years a slim volume produced by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission has been the weeding “bible” of the library world. It is known as the Crew Method: Expanded Guidelines for Collection Evaluation and Weeding for Small and Medium-Sized Public Libraries. I’m not sure who appointed those guys master weeders, but they developed a simple method that most libraries use. The Crew manual states that depending on shelf space, we should choose a date three to five years ago and weed any adult fiction book that hasn’t been checked out since that date. We’re crowded, so we use the three year rule. If nobody has wanted to read it in the last three years, chances are no one ever will.

It just kills me. I read several book review journals every month. I only buy books that came well recommended and reviewed. How do all these dud slip by? Perhaps I am gullible, just a real sucker for a well written book review. It also works the other way around. Every once in awhile a good book slips by me. Sometimes I will read the review and think “who cares about religious intrigue in the art world? “ Six thousand people cared enough to buy The Da Vinci Code the first day it was published. Sixty million more copies have sold since. Maybe I just need more practice.

I’ve weeded like crazy this week. The shelves by the east door that hold our new books are getting crowded. Some of the least new ones need to move onto the regular shelves and I must make way for them. Thus, there are lots of free books for the taking. They are housed on the shelves on the stair landing. A sample of what is available:

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It was published in 1989. It’s 973 pages long. Demi tried for years to persuade me to read it. When Oprah recommended it, I read it. It’s very good. The hoopla has died down and we now have an extra copy.

Love with Noodles: An Amorous Widower’s Tale by Harry Freund. I haven’t read this one. The cover says that widower Dan remained faithful to his deceased wife until a string of tantalizing women entered his life.

The Sudoku Murder by Shelley Freydont. Apparently readers didn’t stay interested in this one any longer than I did in those stupid puzzles of the same name. I never did get one to work out right.

Ten Little New Yorkers by Kinky Friedman. He’s that wacky guy that keeps running (but not winning) for governor of Texas. The cover says he lives with his five dogs and one armadillo in a little green trailer in the Texas hill country. His books just aren’t very popular around here. I think we are probably too sensible to appreciate his humor.

Also available are assorted other rejects. Some John Grisham and Julie Garwood books have been read to pieces. They will probably make it through one more reading. If you read to the beat of a different drummer, we have a free book for you. If you follow the straight and narrow reading path, we have some well worn copies for you to take home to keep and enjoy. Stop by, check out what is available FOR FREE at your library.