The Index of American Public Library Circulation dates back to 1939, and the Index of American Public Library Expenditures to 1951. These indexes are based on annual reports from a sample of all American public libraries serving more than 25,000 people each. Using the 1982 American Library Directory, the researchers identified 1,586 public…

Resulting from the Association of Research Libraries' (ARL) 1975 survey on user services, this kit presents documentation on and discusses developments in physical access services--services which facilitate the actual delivery of information sources to the user--including circulation, interlibrary loan, book delivery, and new media services. As…

Statistics on book budgets, population served, and collection size of individual public libraries in New York State were correlated with their circulation data to examine efficiency of scale for mid-size libraries. Findings show that circulation increases erratically with increased book budgets and size of population, but consistently with…

A user attitude survey was conducted in the main library at the University of Oklahoma before and after the opening of a new library wing which effectively doubled the size of the main library. At the time of the opening of the new wing, the circulation department began using a new computer system for circulation of the general collection. The…

This paper examines the barriers to cooperation among a group of librarians and trustees in the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS) in New Jersey as the group explored the potential advantages of a cooperative automated circulation system. This network of public libraries shares reciprocal borrowing, direct access to borrowing, and…

The process described in this manual is designed to help small academic libraries systematically study the use of their circulating book collections. Originally developed in 1980, the manual has been used successfully in several small college libraries, both with and without assistance from outside consultants. In most cases, the study can be…

This report describes a study designed to determine whether the collection of computer software by libraries falls into a pattern of library type and whether patron use of computer software falls into a pattern of clientele type. Following a summary of previous research, a discussion of the study methodology describes a survey of 154 randomly…

Indiana State Library staff were surveyed before automation planning and staff development committees were created to determine their reactions to automation and their expectations of online catalog and circulation system. Second survey a year later revealed more staff involvement and more positive attitudes than first study. Both questionnaires…

Circulation time-series data from 50 midwest academic libraries were used to test 110 variants of 8 smoothing forecasting methods. Data and methodologies and illustrations of two recommended methods--the single exponential smoothing method and Brown's one-parameter linear exponential smoothing method--are given. Eight references are cited. (EJS)

This report compares levels of staffing in the libraries of 20 midwest liberal arts colleges. (Noting that libraries all have different organizational structures and different types and levels of service, the study notes the danger of inappropriate comparisons.) Data for this paper were taken from "1982-83 Library Data: Associated Colleges of the…

Describes an exchange program between academic libraries in Sichuan Province and Washington State University, and discusses the Chinese approach to academic librarianship in the areas of management and personnel, access and circulation, automation, reference services, collection development and censorship, and library facilities. (CLB)

Describes a circulation model for academic research libraries which uses the mixed Poisson model, incorporating ageing of library materials, to predict future use of monographs and to suggest weeding procedures based on frequency of circulation. Longitudinal studies are examined and statistical details are appended. (Author/LRW)

Based on the concept that library use measurement should have as its basic starting point the individual patron, a method of data collection and analysis has been developed that explores individual patterns of borrowing over time. The method accounts for the number of visits on which borrowing takes place, number of items borrowed per visit, and…

Based on a doctoral dissertation, this paper describes a study of why displays of books increase use. Two hypotheses were tested using standard pretest-posttest experimental designs at two small Illinois public libraries. Increased accessibility and visibility were found to be causes, while narrowing the browser's choice was not. (Author/EM)

This article describes study of the relative effectiveness of classroom faculty and librarians as book selection agents in a small urban commuter college located in Chicago, Illinois. Use of history section of collection, hypotheses tested, data collection and analysis, circulation activity, and comparative data are highlighted. Eight references…