A survey of the collections of the libraries at the State University College at Buffalo (New York) was conducted to determine the physical condition of books and bound periodicals. The methodology of prior surveys at Yale (Connecticut) and Syracuse (New York) Universities was used and the following hypotheses were tested: (1) the methodology used…

Although library buildings often house both library and archival (i.e., manuscript) collections, the approaches to library and manuscript collections are quite different, and obtaining information from libraries and archives involves different processes. In general, libraries maintain published book and periodicals that are duplicated in many…

Reports results of study designed to analyze user behavior in two Cyprus cultural center libraries--American Center Library and British Council Library. Library floor plans, user characteristics and patterns, special use analyses, serious versus casual use, and relationships or correlations between characteristics and services are highlighted.…

Twenty-one libraries in Library Computer System participated in collection overlap study. Findings of random sample representing 1% of each collection indicate that high percentage of titles, 69.4%, occurred only once in network and that percentage of each library's collection unique to that library, ranged from 6.1% to 68.4%. (21 references) (EJS)

Argues that the analytical comparison of library collections to the people using those collections could provide insights related to library acquisition priorities and practices, and describes and illustrates a method for analyzing this relationship. A sidebar by Myra White describes an application of the results of such a study at California…

Overlap (two libraries own same title) and duplication (one library has more than one copy) in children's collections of books and audiovisual materials were measured. It was found that there was less overlap between two school libraries than between a school library and a public library. Six references are cited. (EJS)

Describes steps in survey project that supplied information for contemplated merger of two libraries by estimating number of volumes and titles and duplication between John Crerar Library collections and University of Chicago Library science collections. Survey's findings for volume duplication are analyzed by subject groupings and by books and…

Determines book obsolescence rates for instructional departments within university by analyzing annual library's circulation and relating patterns of library use to curricular programs. Immediacy and intensity of peak usage, use dispersion, and commonality of use were used to develop acquisition priority weighting formula. Twenty-two sources and…

Comparison of return rates of materials from Ohio State University Libraries to other home loan studies for academic staff and students indicates that due date may be less important than previously thought, and publicity should be tested as means to encourage students to return materials at earlier date. (12 references) (EJS)

This paper outlines the procedures for a study that will focus on the information needs of the 12 Department of Sociology faculty members at Ball State University. By comparing needs of the sociology department with current holdings in the library, deficiencies in monograph and serial holdings are expected to be identified. Needs are defined here…

To measure effect of posters on children's selection of books from display table, two displays (one with poster) were placed in visible area of one public library and five elementary school media centers. Children selected 10% (public library) and 27% (media center libraries) more books from poster table. (14 references) (EJS)

Describes methodology for analyzing MARC (machine-readable cataloging) records of highly circulating titles to document common characteristics for collection development purposes. Application of the methodology in a university library is discussed, and data are presented on commonality of subject heading, author, language, and imprint date for…