The Saint Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center School of Nursing Library has a strong collection of nursing and nursing management journals. With the rising subscription costs of periodicals, it was necessary to evaluate the collection of periodicals. This study was done to evaluate the periodicals that the library has in paper form. The study…

Columbia-Greene Community College (Hudson, New York) takes a yearly 10% statistical sample of its entire circulating collection, noting the call number, acquisition year, and circulation record of each book, in order to determine the pattern of book use over the preceding 2.5 years, and to facilitate the development of an acquisition pattern that…

Proposes a model for technical journal deselection based on the Bradford law of distribution. The model's operational prescriptives, characteristics of the Bradford distribution in the field of pediatrics, and relevance to collection management are discussed. (42 references) (KRN)

Argues that evaluating a library's collection is not an acceptable substitute for evaluating the collection development process and its developers. With increasing materials costs, overselection can be much more serious than underselection. Several useful methods for evaluating collection development incorporate statistics regarding proportional…

Using bibliometric methodologies, this article analyzes the publication and citation patterns of a sample group of structural biologists from multiple institutions. Results were consistent with several models for journal selection. These models were used to compile a short list of specialized titles supporting structural biology. Results have…

This report describes a use study designed to facilitate the selection of books that will be needed and used by identifying heavily used subjects and publishers in an academic library's collection of nursing books. Discussions include the study background and significance, study limitations, and basic assumptions. In addition, the procedures for…

This report describes a study of the use of science and technology books and journals in an academic library which was conducted to ascertain whether journal use can be predicted by book circulation figures. The study background and significance are discussed, terms are defined, study limitations are considered, and basic assumptions are…

Introduction to the second part of a two-part series on collection development invites the reader to evaluate current collection development practice while considering changes, in light of recent innovations in library automation, resource availability, and format. Three major themes discussed in as many articles are briefly reviewed. (SD)

Describes a study of the use of a computerized circulation system in a middle school media center which gathered quantitative data about collection composition and age, and measured materials use. Ways in which circulation analysis can fit among other collection analysis and development methods are discussed, and unique considerations for school…

Discusses the use of quantitative collection development and use studies as research tools to evaluate the quality of children's library collections. Four studies, conducted in school and public libraries, that involve analyzing data with statistical tests are reviewed to show how data already being collected can be developed into research…