Be bold, throw out books

There's a reason you may not be able to find that copy of Be Bold With Bananas, or Inside Bowling For Women, on your local library shelves.

That's because tossing books is not only standard practice in libraries, according to Mary Kelly, it's what keeps libraries vibrant and relevant to their public. 

As a librarian with the Lyon Township Public Library on the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan, it's Kelly's job to weed out the books that no longer belong.

It is, she admits, a subjective practice — one that can lead to arguments between librarians, and loud protest from library users.  

Kelly chooses what to bin, and what to keep, by asking herself not whether the book is actually good (though that does factor in the decision — we'll get to that in a minute), but whether the book in question is something her public would actually read. Take Tackle Block Stop: Mr. T and Me, from 1985.

"How many kids know Mr. T today? That's my example of maybe [it's] a fine book, but is it working the best it can for the current audience?"

And then there are the logistics of hanging on to an ever-growing catalogue.

"Nobody has infinite space," says Kelly. "And nobody has infinite budgets."

Whether it's replacing beat-up copies of library favourites, or simply getting rid of books with out-of-date information, Kelly says there's also a public relations argument to be made for weeding regularly.

She says libraries that cull infrequently, and in massive quantities, risk upsetting a public that may see thousands of books going out the door at once, as something akin to book burning — even if it's perfectly reasonable collection management practice. 

"If you don't have a good policy and transparency when you're communicating these kinds of normal activities," she says, "it can look, to some people, like you are being disrespectful of taxpayers, or even freedom of speech — those things that make everybody cringe." 

As for judging whether a book is actually good, Kelly makes a weekly argument for culling certain titles through a blog she co-created called Awful Library Books. And though she does have a soft spot for the truly awful, she's always ready to make the tough call. 

"I think libraries should have odd things in there. I think they're hilarious and they make for good discussions, book displays, all sorts of things. But if nobody's looking at it, and space is at a premium, you have to choose." 

If you haven't touched it in a year... maybe it's time to think about letting that little book go.- Mary Kelly

She also suggests that certain books may be better off in archives or museums.

"When I say they're not appropriate for my public library, that doesn't mean they don't have a place in our society."

And if you're wondering what to do with the piles of unread books you've been tripping over in your living room, Kelly has a bit of advice for you. 

"If you haven't touched it in a year... maybe it's time to think about letting that little book go." 

Ruthless. But necessary. 

Click on the play button above to Mary Kelly's interview with guest host Jason Proctor.