MnPALS Virtual Conference 2021: Flexibility in Library Services

Presenter: Abe Nemon
Slides

I analogize current debates over how to manage underused print collections to the ancient debates between the philosophers (who value the naked truth) and the sophists (who advocate the use of persuasive techniques). Using my experience weeding and revitalizing a liberal arts college library's British literature collection, I show how principles drawn from classical rhetoric can guide our decisions about what to weed and what to add, and how we can use collection management as a tool to reintroduce and promote underutilized parts of our collections for the benefit of faculty and students.