Guilty as charged. And yes I think there is an unnatural folk link. I am a half-hearted folkie compared with many of my colleagues over the years.

As to weeding, there are institutions in the UK centrally funded to act as repositories for all printed works. Locally funded public libraries just don't have the resources to act as deposit libraries. Academic institutions are a different matter, the best interests of the students is presumably paramount tho' it's not my field.

I weed regularly, if I don't my Library Assistants can't get the returns on the shelves.

Anyone in the UK within striking distance of Plymouth might like to know that the Central Library is holding a massive sale of withdrawn stock this Saturday from 9am-4pm. Books, cassettes, CDs, videos all at rock bottom prices.