Evaluation of monograph selection in a health sciences library

This article reports on an evaluation of recent monograph selections in a small academic health sciences library. Actual use of each new book was determined from date-due slips. Data were analyzed by broad subject, discipline, and number of uses. The startling result was that more than 60% of recent selections had been used little or not at all. To determine factors affecting use, the author examined aggregate data, used intuition, and assessed the raw data in more detail. Recommendations made to management were approved and implemented. The study bolstered confidence that it is possible to select materials with the highest potential for use and to depend on remote access for other needed works. It is suggested that other health sciences libraries undertake such studies and question the need to strive for comprehensive collections.