One man's trash

Purpose – This paper aims to provide insights into issues encountered in maintaining library technologies and electronic collections in changing times and on a limited budget with limited personnel. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses real-world experiences and anecdotal evidence to provide commentary on progress and the future of libraries as it relates to letting go of traditional practices and procedures and embracing new ideas and directions. Findings – Weeding a large collection of materials with limited personnel and finances is no easy task. Aside from the functional aspects of handling and processing thousands of volumes there are emotional aspects to discarding that can be overwhelming for some. There is also the fear that one may be throwing away something useful or valuable. Originality/value – This paper is a light hearted piece on one librarian's experiences in taking part in a large-scale weeding project.