99% Invisible Weeding is Fundamental Revisited
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Aug 5, 2025 
Pierce Gelley, a graduate student and creative writing instructor at the University of Virginia, dives into the fascinating world of library collections and weeding. He discusses the emotional weight books hold for readers and the challenges libraries face in maintaining relevant collections. The conversation highlights the 1989 earthquake's impact on the San Francisco Public Library, revealing the tension between modernization and tradition. Gelley also explores the philosophy behind discarding outdated materials while curating spaces that resonate with the community.
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Earthquake Devastates Library Collection
- The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake caused severe damage to the San Francisco Public Library, collapsing floors and scattering half a million books on the floor.
- Jason Gibbs, a librarian, described the chaotic aftermath where bookshelves collapsed and books lay in piles everywhere.
Musty Acronym Guides Weeding
- Weeding is a standard library practice to free up space due to constant new book arrivals.
- The acronym MUSTY guides this process: Misleading, Ugly, Superseded, Trivial, Your collection's irrelevance.
Guerrilla Librarians Resist Book Removal
- In response to rapid post-earthquake weeding orders, some librarians formed "guerrilla librarians" who secretly kept books by changing red slips to green.
- They resisted management's arbitrary removal of books without full consultation.
