Field Experience: Section 811

Evaluating the Poetry (811) Section- Anthony Carnevale Elementary School Library

I found that deciding which books should be weeded or maintained in the library catalogue to be difficult. The books were in such good condition, that I did not see a reason to remove or weed them. I used the “MUSTIE” standard to decide if a title should be weeded from the collection. MUSTIE” (acronym) stands for M (misleading), U(ugly), S (superseded), T(trivial), I (irrelevant), and E(Elsewhere).

Since most of the titles were in good to excellent conditions, the “U” or ugly did not help me to weed books. I then decided to look at the date the title was acquired and the circulation history. I discovered that many of the books had never been in circulation or had only been checked out a couple times. This was a way to see if the title was irrelevant or could be found elsewhere.

As I looked to weed titles, I decided to keep some books even though they have a lack of circulation because they had poems that I determined I could use as a teacher. This seems to go against the basis of MUSTIE, but I am not sure how previous librarians have marketed this section. Vardell (2019) states that “poetry books go out of print more quickly” than other books (p. 114). So, I approach the task of weeding this section, I want to be sure that I really want to remove a title.

This was a wonderful exercise to begin weeding the Carnevale Library collection. I have mostly weeded multiple copies and books that were ugly. This really opened my eyes how easy it is to hoard titles just because they are in excellent condition.

Vardel, S. M. (2019). Children’s literature in action: A librarian’s guide. (3^rd ed). Libraries Unlimited.

A Sampling of Poetry Books from the Anthony Carnevale School Library

Title	Author	Date of publication	Summary of Evaluation of content	Summary of Evaluation of Physical Condition	Decision (choose one): Keep, Weed, replace with new copy and why
1. Laughing Tomatoes/ Jitomates Risuenos	Francisco X. Alarcon	1997	The individual poet compilation format celebrating spring. The thematic collection is bilingual and accessible for students in grades 2-5	Hard cover. Library bound. Good condition.	Keep. The book is bilingual. The illustrator Maya Chrisina Gonzalez creates a flowing story of family with her illustrations. Book was last checked out in 2018.
2. Angels Ride Bikes/ Los Angeles Andan en Bicicleta	Francisco X. Alarcon	1999	The poems show the simplicity of life in the fall. The individual poet compilation is bilingual and accessible for students in grades 2-5	Hard cover. Good condition	Keep. Some of the poems are simple and can model for younger students. This book has never checked out.
3. Animal Ark	Alexander Kwame	2017	Poem Picture book. The animals are photographed by Joel Sartore to accompany the poetry. The poems are layed out to be incorporated the the images. Accessible for Pre-k- 3	Hard cover in  fair condition	Keep. Some pages need to be repaired. Book was last checked out in 2019.
4. Common Critters	Pat Brisson	2020	advanced copy. The individual peet collection of poems looks at wildlife a student may find in their yard. The cartoon like illustration are appealing. Accessible for students in pre-k through 3	Soft cover. Excellent condition.	Keep. The language of the poems are simple and accessible to students. The illustration are fun and would be appealing to students. Never taken out
5. Hoops	Robert Burleigh	1997	Poem picture book. The poem expanded onto the 32 pages supported by Stephen T. Johnson’s illustratrations. The poem explores the game of basketball. Accessible for students in 2nd through fifth	Hard cover, library bound. Excellent condition.	Keep. The poem’s subject matter fits with the students’ interests. The book needs to be promoted because it has never been checked out.
6. Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship	Irene Latham and Charles Waters	2018	The poems explore different experiences from 2 different backgrounds- one author is white the other is black. Accessable for students from 3rd to 6th.	Hard Cover.Excellent condition.	Keep. This would be an excellent resource for the teachers and students to explore different points of view.Never been taken out.
7. If Pigs Could Fly… And Other Deep Thouhgts	Collection by Bruce Lansky	2000	An anthology of humorous poems. This collection expires are grouped by sub topics to allow students to skip to the section that interests them. Accessible for students from 3rd to 5h. them.	Hard Cover. Fair condition.	Keep or update with the same author’s collection of selected poems. This is a funny collection of poems that will make students laugh. Last time checked out 2017
8. The Underwear Salesman	J. Patrick Lewis	2009	Poet Compilation. Each poem is a different profession including banana picker and acupuncturist. The illustrations  are a college of photographs, ink and paint to create texture. Accessible to 2nd through 5th grade	Hard cover. Good condition.	Keep. The poems provide an interesting way to start conversations about different occupations. Not checked out since 2010.
9. Monster Motel	Douglas Florian	1993	Poet Compilation. The author/illustrator create a collection of monster poems.Accessible to 1st  through 4th grade	Hard cover, library bound. Good condition	I- Irrelevant to the needs and interests of the library’s community. This book has not been check out since 2003
10. Dirt on my Shirt	Jeff Foxworthy	2008	The poet collection is set up as an “I can read book” or Easy. The 32 poems focus on friendship, family and nature. The poems are accessible to 1st through 3rd grade.	Hard cover. Good condition	Keep. This has been checked out regularly since it was acquired in 2010.
11. Pocket Poems	Selected by Bobbi Katz	2004	An anthology of poems. The poems are short, 8 lines or less. Pre-k through 3.	Hard cover. Fair condition	S– Superseded – by a new edition that depicts multicultural illustrations like Keep a Pocket in your Poem.
12. Kids Pick the funniest Poems	Selected by Bruce Lansky	1991	An anthology of humorous poems. This collection expires are grouped by sub topics to allow students to skip to the section that interests them. Accessible for students from 1st to 5th. them.	Hard cover. Good condition.	Keep. it has a good history of circulation
13. Nothing Beats a Pizza	Loris Lesynski	2001	Individual Poet Compilation. The poems vary in length and are humorous. The illustrations look dated.	Hard cover. Library bound. Good condition.	I-Irrelevant to the needs and interests of the library’s community. This book has not been checked out since 2007.
14. Blues Journey	Walter Dean Myers	1989	A picture book poem that is rhythmic. The illustrations by Christopher Myers are beautiful, with their varying values of  blues and brown. 5th grade and higher	Hard cover. Excellent condition.	I-Irrelevant to the needs and interests of the library’s community. The book was acquired in 2004 and has never been checked out.
15. Oh No! Where are my pants? And Other Disasters: Poems	Edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins	2005	An anthology of  poems. Humorous poems aimed at younger children. The images by Wolf Erlbruch, while lovely, look dated. The children depicted are not diverse. P-k to 2.	Hard Cover. Good condition	I-Irrelevant to the needs and interests of the library’s community. The book has been checked out once and not for 14 years.
16. The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-to Poems	Selected by Paul B. Janeczko	2019	An anthology of poems. This is a collection of how-to poems   For grades one through four	Hard cover. Excellent condition.	Keep. Beautiful book.
17. The Random House Book of Poetry for Children	Selected by Jack Prelutsky	1983	An anthology of poems. This is a collection that is subdivided by category. The images created by Arnold Lobel seem a little dated and show no people of color.	Hard Cover. Good condition.	Keep. There are 572 poems and it is easy to find a poem on a topic when someone is looking. Acquired in 2017, never checked out.
18.A Light in the Attick	Shel Silerstein	1981	Individual Poet Compilation.This humorous collection is accessible to upper elementary grades.	Hard cover. Good condition	Keep. This is a classic compilation of poetry. Teachers are familiar with this tittle. Last checked out in 2018
19. Mirror Mirror	Marilyn Singer	2010	Individual Poet Compilation.This author writes a poem then reverses the line order to create a wonderful judts-of- position poetry. The poems are based on familiar fairy tales.	Hard cover. Fair condition	Keep. The poems will allow students to have context. The book was last checked out in 2017.
20. Hey You! C’mere: A Poetry Slam	Elizabeth Swados	2002	Individual Poet Compilation.The poems in this reflect life in an urban setting. collection is accessible to upper elementary grades.	Hard Cover. Good condition.	S-Superseded by another copy of this book in better condition. This was last checked out in 2012
21. Hidden City: Poems of Urban Wildlife	Sarah Grace Tuttle	2018	Individual Poet Compilation.The poems in this reflect wildlife in an urban setting.	Hard cover. Good condition.	Keep. This book was found on the shelves, but is not in the catalog- even though it has a barcode.
22. If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries	Judith Viorst	1981	Individual Poet Compilation.The collection is divided into subcategories.	Hard cover. Fair condition	I– Irrelevant to the needs and interests of the library’s community. Title was acquired in 2004 and has never been checked out.
23. The Alphabet from Z to A (With much Confusion on the Way)	Judith Viorst	1994	Individual Poet Compilation.The collection has a poem for each letter from Z to A accessible to upper elementary grades.	Hard cover. Good condition.	E = Elsewhere in the school system. Title was acquired in 2002 and has never been checked out.
24. Amber was Brave, Essie was Smart	Vera B. Williams	2001	Individual Poet Compilation.The collection tells the story of 2 girls. Interest level third grade to sixth grade.	Hard cover. Good condition	E = Elsewhere in the school system. There are 9 other copies in the district. The title title has not been taken out since 2004.
25. The Disappearing Alphabet	Richard Wilbur	1997	Individual Poet Compilation.The collection has a poem for each of the letters Interest level third grade to sixth grade.	Hard cover, library bound. Excellent condition	I- Irrelevant to the needs and interests of the library’s community. Title was acquired in 2004 and has never been checked out.