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It’s the time of year when rumors start flying about the future of libraries and people start getting worried. And I think we have to be honest that we are at a real nadir in national, local, and state funding for schools and for libraries. So I think our best bet for surviving and thriving is to be proactive and make sure we are at the top of our collective game.

In SLM’s March 2011 issue, Marcia Mardis makes a case for leadership via outstanding collections. I want to offer a corollary to her case: Weed Old Stuff.

I know that most librarians are busier than they have ever been before, but many libraries have suffered from literally decades of lack of culling and weeding. Getting rid of old, musty, outdated, worn, inaccurate information has always been part of our job. Now more than ever, if we want to stand up to, “We don’t need libraries because we have the Internet/Kindles,” we have to get real and make sure they aren’t saying, “We don’t need libraries because they are full of books about how man will someday go to the moon AND because we have the Internet and Kindles.”
Let’s not let collection obsolescence lead to our professional obsolescence.

A collection full of new and/or well-maintained, shiny, accurate materials beckons the reader. An aged collection broadcasts that the collection has not kept pace with societal changes and reinforces stereotypes that “libraries are dead.”

Here are some general tips to consider:

- Designate a box, empty cart, or bookshelf behind the circulation desk where you can stash books you’d like to delete. That way, when a free hour pops up, you can quickly delete them from the system and deface them for discard. Whenever you’re in the stacks, take a second to scan the shelf for aged titles. Tuck them under your arm until you can leave them at the circ desk. Encourage your volunteers to help you seek out these aged titles while they shelve. Make weeding an everyday task instead of waiting for a rainy day. You’ll be amazed at what you can get done when you build it into your normal in-the-stacks routines.

- You can download your records and upload them into Titlewise.com and other online collection development analysis tools that can generate an “aged titles list.” Highlight the titles from the list you want to consider getting rid of. Ask an assistant, student helper, or volunteer to pull those titles and put them on a cart. Once you see all the old stuff gathered into one place, it’s easy to decide to let it go.

- Save your ten worst weeds so you can show them if someone challenges your weeding. (One of my favorite weeds was one that proclaimed the Ford Escort as a compact car of the future. In the Motor City, having a book that said this was akin to malpractice!)

- If you haven’t heard of the author of a fiction title that is over 10 years old, it is probably ready for discard. Ditto if you haven’t heard of someone who is featured in a biography.

- Look into local recycling sites that accept books. Deface them and remove any evidence that the book ever belonged to you. Recycle them off-site. (I never discarded materials in building recycling or trash bins, as dumpster divers sometimes went looking for “good stuff” people threw out. However, follow your district’s discard policy.)

- If you are timid about weeding, delete the books from the system, box them up, and stash them in a back room for a few months to a year. At least the old stuff is off the shelves, making room for the newer stuff to sing. Alternatively, go through the library in multiple sweeps: start by discarding the the titles that, on sight, are the most obviously distressed titles. Later, use Titlewise or a similar tool for a more in-depth weed.

- If you are required to have a certain collection size for accreditation purposes, and your funding is too low to replace aged titles, turn a back storeroom into your “archive,” stash the cruddy stuff there and change the call numbers to reflect the new location. Technically, the books are still accessible, but you’ll still be in accreditation compliance.

- If you’re fueled by a sense of accomplishment, start by weeding the computer section. In most libraries, this consists of a single shelf, maybe two, so you can quickly weed and feel like you’ve accomplished something in a single day. If it’s more than 10 years old, it can most likely be pitched.

- For big impact, weed reference early on in the process. Oftentimes, this section is prominently located in the library on special shelving, so cleaning up this section will have a big impact on your library’s overall appearance. Most of these titles have been replaced by online materials. Keep only those items that are truly still being used, present well, or contain information (such as local history) that cannot be replicated by online sources. Now may be the time to let your print encyclopedias go.

- Third, weed biographies. Again, these tend to be in a standalone section but are a relatively small collection, so you can make progress fast. Start by weeding out celebrity and athlete titles that are more than ten years old. Then look for aged bindings (like cloth covers, faded spine labels). Ask yourself, “Is this information presented more cohesively, more effectively, or in a more aesthetically-pleasing manner online?” In almost every case (except for picture book biographies), the answer is yes. And, as a rule of thumb, if you don’t know who the “famous person” is, neither will your students.

- Fourth, weed much of your fiction over 10 years in age unless the title still has relevance or the author is actively studied in school. For example, Beverly Cleary’s books are still read, even if they’re older, so I’d keep those. Also look for worn paperbacks and yellowing covers. However, save picture books until the end. You’ll need to pull out nearly every title to examine it, and progress will be slow and painstaking.

- Fifth, work your way through the rest of non-fiction, multimedia, teacher materials, and more. Check circulation statistics or the aged titles list if you’re not sure.

- Finally, tackle picture books.

- Admire the extra room that’s on your shelves. Use that space to display high-interest but often-overlooked titles (such as non-fiction for pleasure reading).

Once you see the impact that a few hours’ work will have on your library’s visual appeal, you’ll be addicted to weeding. And, should bad times come, it’s amazing how much aggression you can get out by throwing away old stuff.

And if your physical collection is in great shape, the next step? Start revising and refining your pathfinders, being on the prowl for link rot and updated curriculum standards. Good luck!

Here in the Detroit area, we get the privilege of getting both American and Canadian TV.  So we get to see both versions of the reality TV show in which entrepreneurs seek financing from a team of venture capitalists.  The U.S. version, Shark Tank, has many of the same investors as the Maple Leafs’ Dragons’ Den.

In both cases, entrepreneurs go in and make a pitch for how much money they want, what product(s) they have, and how much of their company they’re willing to give in exchange for a financial arrangement.

I was reminded of this show today when a flurry of emails crossed the Michigan Association for Media in Education’s listserv announcing an unprecedented number of job reassignments that take librarians back into the classroom mid-year.  (I’ve got to wonder – who’s been teaching those classes all fall?)

This is very unusual in Michigan’s union environment, where folks are used to being placed in the fall and, at the very least, staying there until the end of the school year.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Michigan school librarians are being cut at unprecedented rates — and earlier in the school year than we are used to. There’s little that can be said to palliate that pain for our colleagues.  Though they would, in a pinch, agree that being moved to a classroom is better than nothing (an option, sadly, not available to low-seniority teachers, who face losing their jobs and, ultimately, their homes), they are legitimately angry that the state funding crisis, which has been slowly boiling for my entire seven-year career as a school librarian, has finally reached its inevitable boil.

(I’m reminded of how to cook frogs:raise the temperature slowly so they don’t notice that they are being boiled to death.  Guess what – we’ve been slowly boiling for years, and trust me: there comes  a point when The. Frog. Knows.)

It hurts to see school librarians and libraries cast off.  As the daughter of a school administrator, I know that no administrator wishes to be in this terrible position. Given their druthers, administrators would like to have as many things to brag about as possible.

Ultimately, in Michigan, there isn’t a “we hate librarians” movement.  Rather, the money is just running out.  My friends who are counselors, Enrichment specialists, curriculum specialists, special ed parapros, general ed parapros, social workers, etc., are as worried as we are.  Teachers brace to lose their jobs, have 35 kids jammed in a classroom designed for 22, lose benefits and planning time, and more.  Sadly, no one is immune.

Is it about you? Or not? In the early years of budget cuts, I don’t doubt that principals who cut librarians early made those cuts based on the perceived value of that librarian. We are a personality-driven profession.

But guess what? It’s probably, most likely, 99% certain that it’s not about you if your job is on the line.  If you’ve managed to survive 7+ years of cuts, you’re either a) lucky, or b) have adapted over time to refresh your value to the school.

If your job is on the line, you can a) let go, b) launch an advocacy campaign, c) fight back, and/or d) rearticulate your value.  Sadly, what you cannot do is point fingers at others and say that they dropped the ball. The responsibility to react is in your hands.

So how does this relate to Shark Tank? It’s how we react to those cuts. Here are my lessons learned from my Shark Tank obsession:

Avoid the Single SKU.

The Sharks squirm when people come to them with a single product, known in the biz as  a “SKU” in reference to the item’s unique code.  They want to buy into companies that go beyond the single trendy gimmick, that will continue to grow, change, and benefit the investor. Similarly, librarians who define themselves as having a single skill to share — be it citation, database searching, books, or Accelerated Reader — won’t gain traction. Prepare to showcase all aspects of your contributions to student learning.

Know Your Niche.

The Sharks cringe when a new food entrepreneur comes to them. The grocery and food distribution business is highly complex and highly competitive.  What can you do to distinguish yourself from every other barbecue rub? What can you do that classroom teachers can’t? The landscape in which we “owned” genres or notetaking or non-fiction or even citation has shifted … our state curricula includes most of those elements now for classroom teachers to teach.  So if that’s the case, what is your niche?

Don’t Point the Finger.

Sharks like entrepreneurs who take responsibility as leaders, financial planners, and visionaries.  They don’t like it when the candidates blame failures on other people.  Similarly, it’s not your state assocation who should take the blame for your crisis, and I wince when I see the listserv turn in this direction.  You are your state association. Partner with your colleagues instead of blaming them.  In addition, don’t blame your Board for having to make heartwrenching decisions. Go to the source of the funding problem (in Michigan, it’s a Congressional issue).

Don’t Cry. At Least In Front of The Sharks.

It never wins anybody any money. It won’t win you your job, either. Cry at home, cry with friends, but be careful about crying in public, either via a listserv or a Board meeting.

Know Your Numbers.

The Sharks keep swell leather pads on their armrests so they can jot down the financial numbers being proposed.  They’re numbers people.  Anecdotes about happy customers? Not good enough.Smart applicants know that and come prepared.  Know the stats that go beyond circulation.  What do Keith Curry Lance’s studies indicate? What does School Libraries Work say? Speak the language of money to the administrators who are stressed about making ends meet.

Get Your Testimonials.

Now is the time to rally the non-librarians around you.  Shark Tank wannabes use others’ buying habits to indicate their past success. They know that it’s one thing to have a great product (a library with a certified librarian) and another thing for others to support the product by buying it (using and loving the library).  Cash in your personal favors.  Ask others to speak on your behalf.

Love Your Product.

Though I don’t always agree with — or need — the inventions and companies brought to the Sharks, I’ve got to admit that the entrepreuers love and believe in their product.  So it’s impossible to dislike them (even if I don’t need a fake golf club into which I can urinate if I can’t make it to the bathroom in time).  What’s your passion? How are you sharing that with your Sharks in a way that will preserve your likability even if they ultimately say no?

Partner.

One thing I love is when the Sharks negotiate with one another to jointly invest. Each takes less risk and still gets involved in a product that really excites them.Unfortunately, if your job is in jeopardy, someone else’s probably is, too.  Partner with others in your state or area.  Share resources and strategies. Don’t go it alone.

Anticipate the Questions.

Savvy entrepreurs watch Shark Tank episodes before appearing on them. They need to know how things work, how to navigate the waters, and what strategies to use. What questions are you likely to be asked if your job is in crisis? (“Why do we need flexible schedule?” “Why do we need databases when everything is online?” etc.) Have your statistics and justifications ready.  You never know when you’ll be next in line at the Piggly Wiggly with the Board President. Prep your elevator speeches.

It is heartbreaking to watch school librarians suffer and mourn.  But it is even more heartbreaking for school librarians who call themselves school leaders shrink back from leadership when times are tough. Fight the good fight. Do your best. Don’t let anyone say, “We cut her because she was ineffective.” If the Fates decide that the money isn’t there, at least have them say, “The hardest thing we had to do was cut the librarian, because she was phenomenal.” Don’t let it be about you.

Image from Michael Stephens’ Tame the Web blog