Collection Development in Nursing: Weeding for Collection Strength

Abstract

Identifying nursing items to purchase for a library collection can be a daunting task, especially since the materials become dated very quickly, and because, with limited budgets, librarians need to prioritize purchases. The Systematic Weeding to Identify Purchases (SWIPE) method employs a model of systematic weeding and identification of purchases that combines faculty subject expertise and librarian searching skills. With faculty input and circulation data, a librarian using SWIPE can identify items to withdraw from the collection, while also identifying new editions and titles to purchase in a content area, such as nursing. The SWIPE method allows librarians with little subject background to purchase appropriate and necessary new titles in a highly efficient manner.