AARL

Measuring in-house use of print serials - the University of Melbourne's experience

Helen Thomson
helenlt@unimelb.edu.au.nospam

Abstract: This article focuses on the methodology used by the University of Melbourne Library to carry out a survey of in-house use of print serials at the Giblin Economics and Commerce Library in 2000. The article fills a gap in the existing literature in regard to surveys or measurements of the usage of print serials. It is intended in this article to focus on how the University of Melbourne conducted its in-house use survey and so a detailed methodology is included. The results of this survey were then used to identify low use titles in the collection that could be nominated for cancellation. The article also identifies some of the patterns in the results of the in-house use survey and discusses some of the issues related to measuring usage by this method and reviewing print serials subscriptions.

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