|  Why
Weed Hobbies and Crafts?
Some
hobbies such as stamp and coin collecting have been around
forever and have changed very little. Likewise, crafts such
as needlework, pottery, basketmaking, and origami have kept
the same basic mastering skills. However, the passage of
time continues to bring new styles to old ways. It is this
new style and presentation that is often critical in attracting
young readers.
Suggested
Dewey Numbers to Check:
Most
of the hobbies and crafts books will be found in the 745s
and 746s. However, you will have to survey all of your 700s
to pick up activities such as stamp collecting (769.56),
sports card collecting (796s), and photography (770s). Remember
to check your reference and AV collections too.
Specific
Criteria for Weeding:
Since
many hobby and craft "how to" books can continue
to have useful information and appeal to readers over the
years, you need to weed and replace any books that are in
poor physical condition. Then look at the publication dates
on books that are guides to collectibles. A book published
ten years ago will be missing ten years of those stamps,
coins, etc., to collect. Sports card collectors are looking
at new sports heros like Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa as
well as the old favorites. "Beanie Babies" are
today's ultimate collectibles to many and yet they were
unheard of five years ago. Continue weeding by looking at
the books that are still in good physical condition but
are not circulating. Many older editions are so dated in
appearance (including the clothing and hairstyles in illustrations)
that they have little appeal to students. Those books may
also be giving bad information if they include any pricing
information for supplies or purchasing. Finally, check for
currency and awareness in your collection: holiday craft
books should include Hanukkah and Kwanzaa; sports card collecting
books should illustrate both girls and boys, etc.
A
good craft/hobby book provides:
1. Clear and complete instructions for a beginner in the
craft.
2. Clear, detailed, appealing illustrations of all major
steps.
3. Use of age-appropriate tools. (No hot stove or sharp
knife for primary.)
4. No gender bias. (Can only Brother use a screwdriver?
Only Mom help with cooking?)
5. Currently available materials. (Or a choice of materials,
some of which are current.)
6. A topic of interest to your students or suited to your
curriculum.
[Note: Thanks to Dee Lucas, media specialist at Cocoa Beach
High School in Cocoa Beach, Florida, for her assistance
with this month's topic.]
Consider
Weeding Titles Like These:
- 50
gifts to make for under $1.00, 1974.
- 2000
designs, forms and ornaments, 1947. LCCN 48000322
- Adventures
with scissors and paper, 1959. LCCN 5914565
- African
crafts for you to make, 1969. LCCN 70075690
- Beads
as jewelry, 1975. LCCN 7514459
- Better
Home and Gardens treasures from throwaways, 1976. LCCN 75038246
- Camping
and camp crafts, 1964.
- Click,
a first camera book, 1979. LCCN 78031756
- Coin
collecting for fun and profit, 1964. LCCN 64018186
- Collect,
print and paint from nature, 1963. LCCN 6313330
- Colonial
crafts for you to make, 1975. LCCN 7419005
- Contemporary
ceramics [filmstrip], 1983.
- Corrugated
carton crafting, 1972.
- Creating
from scrap, 1962. LCCN 6212593
- Creating
with plaster, 1966. LCCN 6615160
- Creative
papier mache, [1971], LCCN 74114196
- Cutting
up with paper, 1973. LCCN 734955
- Designer
crafts, 1978. LCCN 7728784
- Designing
with string, 1967. LCCN 6810049
- Easy
does it : things to make and do, 1969. LCCN 7577794
- Ed
Emberly's great thumbprint drawing book, 1977. LCCN 7657346
- Electronic
games, 1982. LCCN 82001962.
- Feltcraft,
1973. LCCN 7378675
- Foster's
complete Hoyle, c1953. LCCN 5310219
- Fun
with next to nothing : handicraft projects for boys and
girls 1963. LCCN 628039
- Fun
with wire, 1956. LCCN 5511809
- Fun-time
crafts, 1949. LCCN 49008992
- Funtime;
batik and tie dyeing, 1974. LCCN 748440
- Getting
into photography, [filmstrip], 1974.
- Hobbies,
1972. LCCN 7280191
- Hobbies
for everybody, 1934. LCCN 34041451
- How
to have fun with needlepoint, 1974. LCCN 7318226
- How
to have fun with weaving, 1974. LCCN 7312467
- Ideas
for collage, 1972. LCCN 79180456
- Joy
of crafts, 1975. LCCN 7224777
- Lacquer
& crackle, 1972. LCCN 7280664
- Leatherwork:
procudure and designs, 1958. LCCN 5713412
- Lettering
art in modern use, 1965. LCCN 65013372
- Low
fire; other ways to work in clay, 1980. LCCN 7956377
- The
lucky cook book for boys and girls, 1969.
- Macrame,
knitting & weaving, 1974. LCCN 7408451
- Making
birdhouses and feeders, 1974. LCCN 7310463
- Making
mobiles, 1974. LCCN 7318210
- Making
pictures without paint, 1973. LCCN 724324
- Mosaics
: hobby and art, 1957. LCCN 578589
- Movie
making, 1980. LCCN 8019314
- New
wheels, 1978. LCCN 7727052
- Satellites
as a hobby, 1962. LCCN 62011634
- A
simplified guide to collecting American coins, c1959. LCCN
588094
- Science-hobby
book of acquariums, 1968. LCCN 6854178
- Sculting
in burlap, 1975. LCCN 7419853
- Sew
it! Wear it!, 1975. LCCN 7515647
- Soap
sculpture, 1969. LCCN 69-11141
- Stamp
collectors guide, 1965.
- The
stamp-pad printing book, 1979. LCCN 78022504
- String
things you can create, 1974. LCCN 7295217
- Tall
candle crafting, 1974. LCCN 7383458
- Taking
pictures, 1977.
- Teach
yourself origami : the art of paperfolding, 1969. LCCN 70407976
- Teach
yourself stitchery, 1974. LCCN 7317713
- The
teenagers guide to collecting practically anything, 1972.
- The
Woman's Day book of weekend crafts, 1978. LCCN 7715496
- Wonderful
stuff : the story of clay, 1963. LCCN 6312793
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