Quantitative Criteria for Adequacy of Academic Library Collections

Abstract

The authors challenge accepted doctrine which asserts that the adequacy of an academic library cannot be measured by .thenumber , of books which it contains.Out of their feeling that the Standards for College Libraries and the Standards for Junior College Libraries are inadequate_ for estimating the _ sizes (in volumes) required for minimum .aaequacy by libraries of institutions of higher education of widely , differing characteristics, they developed new formulas for this purpose.Tfiese formulas attempt to identify the principal factors affecting academic needs for books and to ascribe suitable weights to each factor.The authors then illustrate the application of the formulas to specific institutions, and conclude that • while the results are useful, further research is needed.They end by suggesting specific topics for such research.