Date of Award
8-1977
Culminating Project Type
Field Study
Degree Name
Information Media: Specialist degree
Department
Information Media
College
School of Education
First Advisor
Lawrence B. Smelser
Second Advisor
Anthony B. Schulzetenberg
Third Advisor
Lowell A. Mortrude
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Equipment used to prevent collection losses in library
Abstract
PROBLEM:
The problem of the study was to determine if a book detection system would reduce book losses from open stacks and prevent unauthorized borrowing from a non-circulating collection.
PROCEDURES:
A sample of four classification sections within the Reference Collection were selected for the study. A pre-inventory of those sections was conducted prior to the establishment of the detection system. A post-inventory of the identical sections was done after the detection system was in operation for two academic quarters. The book loss rate per academic quarter was then determined to establish if the detection system would reduce the rate of books lost.
FINDINGS:
It was determined after the pre-inventory out of a sample of 7,710 books, 49 books were missing after eight quarters of use or an average book loss per quarter of 6.1 books. Following the post-inventory after the detection system had been used for two academic quarters, six books were reported lost from a sample of 7,682 books. After allowing for the variable length of time between the two inventories, it was determined that the book loss rate per quarter had been reduced by approximately 50 percent.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS:
The results of this study indicated that: (1) the detection system reduced the book loss rate within the Reference Collection at St- Cloud state University; (2) the book loss rate at St. Cloud State University was below the average loss rate reported by other libraries; (3) patrons would receive better service because fewer books were stolen or borrowed without authorization; and (4) a reduction in the book loss rate would save replacement costs of needed materials. The results further suggest a need for additional studies on circulating collections to determine book loss rate.
Recommended Citation
Jensen, Harlan J., "A Study of the 3M Tattle Tape Book Detection System of St. Cloud State University" (1977). Culminating Projects in Information Media. 50.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/im_etds/50
