Applying the CREW Method in a Small Library Setting

Date: 9.23.2025

Time: 9am-1pm

Mondays have become my favorite day of the week at the library, as they are my assigned reference desk days. I genuinely thrive on the constant patron interactions that come with reference work—whether I'm helping someone locate an obscure resource, troubleshooting database access issues, or simply pointing a visitor toward the restroom. There's something deeply satisfying about the variety and unpredictability of reference questions, and I find that the interpersonal nature of the work keeps me energized and engaged throughout the day.

Beyond reference duties, Mondays also include a crucial collaborative component of collection management. My supervisor, Kelly, and I dedicate time to reviewing the materials I've weeded from the collection during my previous shift. I use the CREW method (Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding) to guide my weeding decisions, examining factors like circulation history, physical condition, relevance of content, and accuracy of information. When Kelly and I sit down together, we go through each item I've pulled, discussing whether it truly should be removed or if there's a compelling reason to retain it. This review process serves as both a quality control measure and a valuable learning opportunity for me.

Interestingly, Kelly has mentioned more than once that the CREW method is becoming somewhat outdated in library circles, as newer approaches to collection development have emerged. Despite this acknowledgment, she still prefers using CREW as our guiding framework, and I appreciate her reasoning. As a small special district library, we have considerably more flexibility in our operational procedures than larger library systems that must adhere to standardized district-wide or county-wide policies. Kelly takes advantage of this autonomy to implement practices that work best for our specific community and collection, even if they aren't the latest trend in library science. This pragmatic approach—choosing proven methods that fit our context rather than chasing every new methodology—is something I've come to respect about her management style.