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| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Recurso educativo Open Access |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
1970
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED148345 |
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Table of Contents:
- Optimum Speed of Library Access as Related to Optimum Size of Library Collections. Final Report. Atkinson, Hugh C. College Libraries Decentralization Library Collections Library Networks Library Services Library Surveys Participant Satisfaction Use Studies User Satisfaction (Information) Speed of access is a prime factor in user satisfaction with academic libraries. Specialized (i.e., departmental) libraries have proliferated to provide faster access. This study timed a sample of 933 citations, drawn from items cited in publications of members of each academic unit within the university. The hypothesis that the optimum size for a specialized collection is between 30,000 to 50,000 volumes was not proved by the results. The significant result of the study is the demonstration that approximately 50% of the time in all libraries but the central collection access time was less than three minutes and approximately 45% less than two minutes. With such a large number of very fast accesses, library policies should be adjusted accordingly. Procedures which increase or decrease each access by but a half minute significantly affect the time. Travel time to the library in better than half the cases where such a speed of access obtains may be the most significant patron expense. Further research into other factors which may affect speed of access; e.g., shelving arrangement, catalog arrangement, and placement, is recommended. (Author/JPF)