Material Availability: A Study of Academic Library Performance

Authors

Mary F. Casserly, University at Albany, State University of New YorkFollow
Anne C. Ciliberti
Judith L. Hegg
Eugene S. Mitchell

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1987

Abstract

This article reports the findings of a study modeled after Saracevic, Shaw, and Kantor's efforts to identify and quantify the causes of users' failures to identify and locate library materials. The researchers analyzed patron-reported and librarian-observed subject and known-item searches and found an overall success rate of only 54 percent. The problems that led to the 46 percent failure rate were analyzed by source and type of failure, and subjective observations concerning problems encountered by patrons were recorded. Recommendations are made for reducing library malfunctions and circulation, patron, and acquisition errors.

Comments

Publisher Acknowledgment

Ciliberti, Anne C., Mary F. Casserly, Judith L. Hegg, and Eugene S. Mitchell. “Material Availability: A Study of Academic Library Performance.” College & Research Libraries, Vol. 48, November 1987, p. 513-527.

Recommended Citation

Casserly, Mary F.; Ciliberti, Anne C.; Hegg, Judith L.; and Mitchell, Eugene S., "Material Availability: A Study of Academic Library Performance" (1987). University Libraries Faculty Scholarship. 20.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/ulib_fac_scholar/20