Although the utility of open stack systems has been widely debated, little empirical research relevant to the controversy is available. Using circula- tion, book availability, and search and library-use statistics, major elements of the direct access debate are tested in a six-year study of a library that has recently undergone the transition from closed to open stacks. Direct shelf access, it was found, contributed to an increase in library use and a decrease in c~rculation. Contrary to expectations, book availability perfor- mance also improved significantly during the study period.

Authors

Harry M. Kriz, West Virginia University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1978

College/Unit

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Department/Program/Center

Agricultural & Extension Education

Abstract

Citation analysis was used as an aid in collection development in the field of engineering. It was found that for graduate students books are of greater importance than journals. Substantial reductions in the number o f subscrip- tions released funds for the purchase of books within the limitations of a constant dollar budget. Library usefulness appears to have been increased.

Digital Commons Citation

Kriz, Harry M., "Although the utility of open stack systems has been widely debated, little empirical research relevant to the controversy is available. Using circula- tion, book availability, and search and library-use statistics, major elements of the direct access debate are tested in a six-year study of a library that has recently undergone the transition from closed to open stacks. Direct shelf access, it was found, contributed to an increase in library use and a decrease in c~rculation. Contrary to expectations, book availability perfor- mance also improved significantly during the study period." (1978). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 2909.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/2909

Source Citation

Kriz, H. M. (1978). Subscriptions vs. Books in a Constant Dollar Budget. College & Research Libraries, 39(2), 105–109. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl_39_02_105

Comments

Copyright Copyright Association of College & Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association. Digitized with permission. Issued with a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License (CC BY-NC).