APPLICATIONS OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH MODELS TO LIBRARIES :
A CASE STUDY OF THE USE OF MONOGRAPHS IN THE FRANCIS A. COUNTWAY LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
MIT Press, 1976
Contents
List of Figures.....x
List of Tables.....xii
Foreword by Philip M. Morse.....xv
Introductory Note by Harold Bloomquist.....xvi
Preface.....xvii
Chapter 1. Introduction.....1
Part I Theoretical Models.....5
Chapter 2. Morse's Theoretical Models.....7
Basic Assumptions of the Book-Use Models.....8
Procedure Used by Morse to Develop His Models.....9
Properties of Probabilistic Models.....10
Morse's Book-Use Models and the Markov Process.....10
The Transition Probabilities.....16
The Geometric Distribution for the First-Year Circulation.....17
Morsels Modified Model on Book Use.....18
Chapter 3. Extension of Morse's Theoretical Models..... 22
First-Year Circulation Distribution.....22
Estimating the Sample-Year Circulation Distribution.....26
Estimating the Total Annual Circulation.....31
The Geometric Distribution.....31
Analyzing Relative Numbers of High-Circulation Books.....32
Analyzing the Inactive Books.....32
Predicting the Future Circulation.....33
Predicting Fraction of Books Not Available on Shelf.....35
Part II Testing the Theoretical Models.....37
Chapter 4. The Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine‹
a Sample Library.....39
The Collection.....39
The Arrangement of the Collection.....40
Rules Governing the Borrowing of Books.....42
Procedures for Charging and Discharging a Book.....42
The Users of the Library.....44
Library Hours.....44
Current Status of Countway and Its Book Acquisition.....44
Chapter 5. Samples and Methodology.....50
The Collection of the Book-Use Data.....50
Types of Book Use.....50
Methods Used for Collecting Book-Use Data.....50
Evaluations of the Methods Used for Collecting Book-Use Data.....51
Samples and Methodology of the Study.....52
Major Objectives of the Study.....52
Methodology Used in the Study.....53
Samples.....53
Defining the Scope of the Sample.....53
Sampling Unit.....54
Deciding the Sampling Period.....54
Determining the Sampling Size in Each Sampling Period.....56
Selecting Specific Classes for Detailed Study.....58
Types of Data Collection.....59
Difficulties and Problems of Data Collection.....65
Limitations of the Study.....66
Chapter 6. Experimental Results and Testing of the Theoretical Models.....67
The Simple Markov Process.....67
Analyses of the Data and Experimental Results.....67
Verifying the Models.....73
The Simple Markov Model.....73
The Correction Models.....81
Part III Interpretation of the Results
Chapter 7. Budgetary Considerations
Chapter 8. Book Selection and Duplication Policy.....110
Book Selection Policy.....110
Duplication Policy.....114
Chapter 9. Weeding Policy.....119
Chapter 10. Further Illustrations.....127
Loan Period.....127
Nonuse of the Library.....129
Browsing and Linear Arrangement of Library Books.....129
Chapter 11. Conclusions.....131
Appendixes
1. Detailed Book Circulation Statistics.....135
2. Mean Loan Period.....145
3. Browsing, Search Models, and the Linear Arranging of
Library Books.....153
4. Users of the Countway Library.....157
5. Additional Analyzed Circulation-History Results for
Checking Markov Models.....161
6. Additional Results for Checking the Extended
Theoretical Models Discussed in Chapter 3.....171
7. The Most Frequently Circulated Books in
the Countway Library.....183
Glossary of Symbols.....197
Bibliography.....199
Index..... 209