Use of Library Materials: The University of Pittsburgh Study (Book Review)

Abstract

The findings of a study undertaken at the University of Pittsburgh in 1975 to determine the extent of materials use and the full cost of such use in the university library system are presented in this 272-page report. Intended to serve as a foundation for improved acquisitions policies, this report covers circulation and in-house use of books--circulation histories and sampling provide data for statistical comparison of use and acquisition; journal use as determined through user observation, questionnaires, and interviews; sampling methods for the six libraries with definitions of key concepts; aspects of use as related to other factors, such as duration of subscription, academic status, age, and department of user; an economic analysis of acquistion and use; and the design of a cost benefit model for library operations, which emphasizes acquisition. In further discussions of the study's findings, recommendations are made to explore further the possibilities of resource sharing, and questions are raised about implications for decision-making in library acquisition. A supplementary appendix for the journal use study discusses technical data, application of data collection methodology to other studies, and collection management. (SW)