Analyzing Student Book Use: Using the Online Library System for Collection Development

摘要

This study found that there is not a statistically significant relationship between curriculum profiles and actual library use at this institution. It also found that freshmen and sophomores are more likely to utilize book materials outside than within their majors, but juniors and seniors are likely to do so as well. While further investigation is needed to determine whether these interest areas outside the major are the result of electives, minor courses, or personal interest reading, examination of circulation data demonstrates that there is considerable interest in subject areas outside the individual's core curriculum. Even these preliminary results provide information for collection development decisions. For example, data from the business college shows there appears to be justification for collection development in the areas of fiction and literature.