[PW] Re: collection eval question

[Charles Early]

The ratio of titles of volumes will vary depending on the type of 
library.  Public libraries will usually order multiple copies of popular 
titles, while academic and research libraries usually select more 
specialized titles and order only one copy of each.  Many years ago when we 
had the money, the Goddard Library ordered a lot of multiple copies, but we 
rarely do so anymore.  Then there are multivolume sets and series which may 
or may not be cataloged individually, etc.

Blaine Hall's method can be modified.  Take a random sample of titles from 
the (electronic) shelflist and count the number of volumes they represent.

At 03:41 PM 11/20/2006, you wrote:
>Collection Assessment Manual for College and University Libraries, by
>Blaine H. Hall (Oryx Press) offers only one suggestion, and it assumes
>the library has a card style shelf list.
>In that situation, the author suggests counting the cards within seven
>one- inch blocks -- measured along the sides of the cards while they are
>placed under the same pressure. He then asks the cards within the sample
>be examined and the titles counted. He says if the cards within the inch
>blocks vary by more than 4 from block to block, additional blocks should
>be measured and counted. After the average of titles has been discovered
>within the blocks counted, the entire file can be measured while the
>cards are kept under uniform compression. That total number of inches
>can then be multiplied by the actual average of titles found in the
>sample blocks measured.
>I seem to remember a "rule of thumb" being suggested by a teacher but my
>first library classes were in 1964 so that was a bit of information less
>accessible now!
>Murl Winters
>Associate Library Director
>Evangel University
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org
>[mailto:project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org] On Behalf Of
>Kristen L. Meyer
>Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 8:39 AM
>To: list at project-wombat.org
>Subject: [PW] collection eval question
>
>I have a colleague who is looking for "the formula for estimating the
>number
>of titles if you have the number of volumes". in a library.  I am
>stumped!
>
>
>
>Any suggestions other than:
>
>ARL's site:
>
>http://library.princeton.edu/departments/fiscal/ARL%20Statistics%202005%
>20NE
>W.pdf
>
>
>
>and from Cornell:
>
>http://lts.library.cornell.edu/lts/pp/rmc/92rmcgrowthstat.cfm
>
>
>
>
>
>Thank you for your time and assistance!
>
>Respectfully,
>
>Kristen Mastel
>
>Kristen Mastel, Reference Librarian
>
>MINITEX, 15 Andersen Library
>
>222 21st Avenue South
>
>Minneapolis, MN 55455
>
>Direct: 612-626-9843
>
>WATS:800-462-5348
>
>Fax: 612-625-3569
>
>meye0539 at umn.edu
>
>http://www.minitex.umn.edu <http://www.minitex.umn.edu/>
>
>http://blogs.minitex.umn.edu/reference/
>
>
>
>
>
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>http://www.project-wombat.org/
>_______________________________________________
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Charles Early
Library, Code 272                       (301) 286-0887, Fax (301) 286-8218
Goddard Space Flight Center             Charles.T.Early.1 at gsfc.nasa.gov
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