The aim of this study is to illustrate conceptions held by librarians and library and information scientists about weeding practices of printed books in public libraries. The study has been carried out by performing a series of qualitative interviews with librarians and by study of earlier research relating to the subject of weeding. The results have been analysed by utilizing a textual analysis method called idea and ideology analysis using so called dimensions to analyse and structure the results. The results indicate that weeding at Swedish public libraries is carried out by a mixture of objective and subjective methods, with certain statistical elements. Weeding procedures mainly appears to be legitimized according to what one refers to as knowledge of the local community, although lack of lending are cited from time to time. Weeding is attributed with aesthetic, as well as renewing and instrumental functions, yet a certain emphasis can be discerned towards the renewing function in connection with nonfiction while the other two functions are mainly related to the stock as a whole. Librarians appear to identify considerably more difficulties than possibilities that weeding potentially can bring about. These mainly appear to dwell upon how weeding affect the mixture of fiction in the collections.