Transcript OCLC Online Computer Library Center OCLC Research: Collection Assessment and Use Studies Lynn Silipigni Connaway Ed O’Neill Chandra Prabha Mark Bendig Anya Dyer.

OCLC Online Computer Library Center
OCLC Research: Collection
Assessment and Use Studies
Lynn Silipigni Connaway
Ed O’Neill
Chandra Prabha
Mark Bendig
Anya Dyer
OCLC Researches library collections
OCLC Researchers are
exploring ways to mine data
resources for information that is
useful to library managers.
OCLC Researches library collections
Data from WorldCat can
provide useful support for
collection decisions.
OCLC Researches library collections
Current projects focus on
producing information relevant
to collection assessment and
use.
Publication Dates of Unique Titles
in an ARL Collection*
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
*Data reported represent WorldCat holdings of a private ARL institution.
2000
1990
1980
1970
1960
1950
1940
1930
1920
1910
1900
1890
1880
1870
1860
1850
1840
1830
1820
1810
1800
1700
Pre 1700
0
Unknown
500
OCLC Researches library collections
WorldCat records and
netLibrary usage logs provide
rich sources of research data.
Formats of Unique Titles
*
in an ARL Collection
70%
60%
Percent
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
s
m
at
er
ia
l
er
ia
l
s
s
M
ix
ed
m
at
al
or
di
ng
re
c
un
d
So
Vi
su
ic
M
us
s
M
ap
pu
om
C
g
in
in
u
s
te
r
ou
re
s
ok
Bo
C
on
t
file
rc
e
e
lik
ok
s
Bo
s
0%
Format
*Data reported represent WorldCat holdings of a private ARL institution.
OCLC Researches library collections
WorldCat data may also be
useful for:
– collection assessment
– attracting or accounting for
outside funding
– identifying roles of different library
types
Subject Areas of Unique Titles
in an ARL Collection*
Unclassed
Engineering and Technology
Sociology
Psychology
Political Science
Physical Sciences
Physical Education and Recreation
Performing Arts
Philosophy and Religion
Music
Medicine
Mathematics
Language and Literature
Library Science
Law
History
Geography and Earth Sciences
Education
Business and Economics
Computer Science
Chemistry
Biological Sciences
Art and Architecture
Anthropology
Agriculture
10,131
3,545
0
500
1,000
1,500
*Data reported represent WorldCat holdings of a private ARL institution.
2,000
OCLC Researches library collections
Researchers believe they may
be able to use WorldCat
holdings data to estimate the
audience level of individual
titles.
WorldCat Audience Distribution
35%
Median Audience = 0.850
30%
Mean Audience = 0.828
Percentage
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
0
0.25
0.5
Audience
0.75
1
OCLC Researches library collections
The estimated audience level of
individual titles would be useful
for collection development
decisions, readers’ advisory,
and reference services
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
For more information
Lynn Silipigni Connaway: [email protected]
Ed O’Neill: [email protected]
On the Web:
http://www.oclc.org/research/projects/mi/default.htm