Implementation of Collection Weeding Book Collection in Public Services on the Regional Library and Archives Service of North Sumatera Province

Abstract

Collection weeding is one of the important activities in library management that aims to maintain the relevance, quality, and regularity of the collection. This research examines the implementation of book collection weeding in public services of the Regional Library and Archives of North Sumatra Province by using a descriptive qualitative approach. Data was collected through observation, interviews with librarians and department heads, as well as documentation studies in the form of inventory lists and related SOPs. The research results show that the weeding process is carried out systematically starting from the identification of books that are rarely borrowed or damaged, recording in the weeding list, to managing books that are set aside through grants or official administration. The criteria for weeding include the physical condition of the book, the relevance of the information, and the number of copies. Collection weeding has a positive impact on service quality because it increases collection regularity, information relevance, and service efficiency for users. Policy support and SOP ensure that the weeding process is carried out consistently and can be accounted for, while post-weeding evaluation helps keep the collection up to date and according to user needs. This research confirms that collection weeding is a strategic library management practice to support effective public services.