The 24-hour/5-days-per-week (24/5) model at Belk Library & Information Commons has experienced multiple changes since first implemented in 2006. First the library started small, then expanded, then reduced, and finally expanded again. This article tells the story of a library's 24/5 evolution within the assessment cycle framework, describes…

The variable" loan and duplication policy which was developed is described and also the considerable impact of implementation. The work is presented as a case study in library O.R. The great importance of analyzing the structure of problems is stressed and the nature and usefulness of models is described. (9 references) (Author/NH)

This fifth and final report describes activities since June, 1965. Centralization of the Eisenhower Library Collection was completed early in 1965 and a circulation system became operational in April, 1965. The main portion of this report focuses on various aspects of the circulation system such as preparation of identification cards; the…

The questions of when and how best to computerize the catalog of a large research library, and how to improve an existing conventional catalog, motivated a study of the utilization of the main catalog of the Yale University Library. The study was designed to provide a representative sample of catalog use. (7 references) (Author/NH)

Library governing boards are faced with many administrative questions affecting services offered. This paper describes the operational research approach to the problem of allocation of funds to different departments of a university for purchase of materials. A linear programing model is suggested for solving the allocation problem. (5 references)…

As part of a project designed to construct a mathematical model of the operation of an academic library, a research team determined the usefulness of a quantitative approach to making decisions about the number of copies of each item that a university library should provide. Using the reserve collection of the University of Lancaster Library as a…

This report describes the operations of the Pacific Northwest Bibliographic Center (PNBC) which is located at the University of Washington's Library in Seattle. The Center's Union Catalog contains bibliographic citations for 1,778,000 different titles held by 45 libraries in the Pacific Northwest. The Union Catalog is supplemented by microfilm…

The application of systems engineering and operations research to the problems of libraries has developed quite strongly during the past five years. The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to this relatively new area. There are serious problems of applying systems engineering to libraries. This is to be expected in the case of a…

A document retrieval study conducted before and again after the building of a more centralized library at Syracuse University is used as an example of the kind of data gathering which can lead to improved decision making and evaluation of library services by library administrators. The study is discussed in detail to facilitate replication and to…

This report summarizes the results of a fourteen-month study to (1) examine the feasibility of establishing a book processing center to serve the nine state-supported college and university libraries in Colorado and (2) conduct a simulation study of the proposed Center. The report covers: background, operational characteri tics of participating…

A research project is being conducted to construct a mathematical model of the operations of an academic library to be used in making managerial decisions. As part of this project, this report examines Bradford's Law of Scattering and the fall-off of use of documents as they age. A series of mathematical analyses indicate how these two laws can be…

A management review and analysis was conducted by the staff of the libraries and audio-visual center of Purdue University. Not only were the study team and the eight task forces drawn from all levels of the libraries and audio-visual center staff, but a systematic effort was sustained through inquiries, draft reports and open meetings to involve…

Part I presents an initial review of the literature pertinent to the research problem. The literature review has two divisions. In the first division, the previous works relating to systems analysis studies of libraries or information storage and retrieval systems are reviewed. The second division includes the review of literature pertinent to the…

The objectives of this study are to ensure that the resources at the disposal of the librarian are deployed in a manner which will effectively contribute to the purposes of the university. User behavior is explored in an attempt to solve the difficulties that arise in library planning and management, such as: (1) the relationship between length of…

The paper reviews the research on design and operation of research libraries sponsored by the Purdue University Libraries and the Purdue School of Industrial Engineering. The use of mathematical models in library operations research is discussed. Among the mathematical methods discussed are marginal analysis or cost minimization, computer…