The use patterns of physics journals in a large academic research library

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to reveal the use patterns of the physics journals in the M.I.T. Science Library. The findings are based upon an analysis of actual use data recorded from all volumes and issues left by library users on study tables and on trucks in the photocopy area from March 15 to June 31, 1971. The Science Library contains some 220 physics journals. The study reveals that only 138 journals (62.7%) were used even once during the 3 1/2‐month interval. A core of 49 journals supplies 90% of use, and these titles would cost 51.5% of the total single subscription costs of the 138 used titles: 52.3% of use occurs in journal volumes less than 6 years old. English is the most used language of physics journals and the English journals account for 95.3% of use. American journals, 57.2% of which are published by the American Institute of Physics, supply 59.4% of the total use.