Library Collections and Objecthood

Tiffany Harkleroad
INFO 266
4/27/16

Roll, A. (2016, September 26). Library collections and objecthood. [video file].  Retrieved from https://youtu.be/jk0nynPHOM8

This was an excellent video presentation by Ann Roll, discussing how books can become "objects" and this objecthood often inhibits weeding in a library collection.  Emotional responses to books can cause an emotional response from a library engaging in weeding.

The video proposes that physically interacting with books as objects is what creates such an emotional attachment to books.  Books become more like props in our everyday emotional situations, and the emotions experiences are then transferred to the books.

I found this to be a very interesting presentation, examining the emotional relationships people have with books.  I know that weeding can be a hot button issue to book lovers, and patrons often get upset about the act of weeding.  This presentation does a great job of explaining why these reactions happen, and how we can better approach weeding in a way that can reduce such emotional responses to weeding.  We all know how important weeding can be to keep a library thriving and useful, so this is a great guide to making the process a little less painful.