Effects of binding policy and other factors on the availability of journal issues.

Random samples of journal issues, derived from a test set of 106 biomedical journal titles, were checked against the shelves of the Woodward Biomedical Library under circulating and noncirculating conditions. As well as circulation, binding procedures and duplication of sets were seen to affect availability. Indications are that the practice of binding journals upon completion of the volume may remove them from use at a time of peak demand. The usefulness of second sets of journals appeared to decline rapidly within a few years after publication. A change from circulating to noncirculating conditions may have increased availability certain journals by discouraging use.

Measurement of journal availability in a biomedical library.

During a twelve-day period in October and November 1971, users of the Woodward Biomedical Library were asked to report each time they failed to find a needed journal issue or volume in the library. They reported 370 cases of failure. In 100 of these cases (27%) the journal was not held by the library or had not yet been received; in 66 (18%) it was in some stage of the binding process; in 64 (17%) it was in circulation; in 34 (9%) it was in use in the library; and in 41 (11%) user error was involved. The 64 journals required while in circulation constituted 4.7% of a total of 1,373 journals circulated during the period. Indications are that circulation may not be as great a problem as users have supposed and that more attention should be given to other user problems with journals.