Circulation and Its Relationship to the Book Collection and Academic Departments

Abstract

The computer-produced circulation statistics in the Bucknell University Library for the academic year 1973 I 7 4 are analyzed by Library of Congress classification and academic department. Circulation is compared to the number of volumes related to each department in order to determine how much the department is using the subfect-related book collection. Circulation is also compared with the number of students in the department. These two comparisons identify areas of the collection that arc underutilized or heavily used. Those areas can be studied to determine why this is so and where additional resources should be placed or where the collection should be weeded.