Selected indicators of the range and use of printed resources in Polish academic libraries

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Selected indicators of

the range and use of

printed resources in

Polish academic

libraries

Mirosław Górny

Artur Jazdon and

Piotr Nowak

Mirosław Górny is Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Linguistics (Division of Social Communication) at the Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznari, Poland. Artur Jazdon is Director of the Biblioteka Uniwersytecka (Poznan University Library), Poznari, Poland. Piotr Nowak is Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Linguistics (Division of Social Communication) at the Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland.

Reports the results of a survey rating the amount and degree of the utilisation of printed materials in Polish academic libraries. The results which are presented by type (for example chemical, biological, technical libraries etc.) as well as by function (research libraries and libraries of educational institutions), concern the number of materials, including both books and periodicals. The authors include the amount of material in English as well as in other foreign languages. Figures illustrating the annual increase of these materials are also included. In addition, the article offers data which cover a number of *

issues, including the range of materials which were

ordered at the request of users, the time of cataloguing,

the number of loans, the number of unfilled orders, the extent of the utilisation of the collections, the number of interiibrary loans, as well as the relegation of outdated materials. Finally, the survey reveals information on the number of libraries which research into user needs, the number of libraries which are open on Saturdays and Sundays, and the number of libraries which provide special services such as weekend loans.

Library Management

Volume 20 • Number 3 1999 pp. 159-167 © MCB University Press • ISSN 0143-5124

Introduction

T h e goal o f this research was to e stablish th e a m o u n t o f p rin te d m aterials in P olish academ ic libraries an d th e e x ten t to w hich th ey are u tilised. I t was d ecid ed to c o n d u c t th e research b y m ean s o f a q u estio n n aire a n d to in clu d e all a cadem ic libraries in P o lan d . T h e survey exam ines d ata relev an t to 143 libraries th a t w ere g ath ered b y d istrib u tin g questio n n aires by p o st in 1995. T h e q u estio n n aires w ere sen t to libraries th a t h a d b e en divided in to th re e groups:

(1) u niversity libraries (11 questionnaires w ere d istrib u te d , a n d eight com p leted qu estio n n aires w ere re tu rn e d );

(2) special libraries - libraries o f the in stitutes (e.g. in stitu tes o f c hem istry, o f c o m p u te r science, o f biology etc.) o f th e Polish A cadem y o f Sciences (75 questionnaires w ere d istrib u te d , a n d 43 w ere retu rn e d ); (3) libraries o f in stitu tio n s o f professional

h ig h e r ed u ca tio n - technical universities, m ed ical schools, academ ies o f physical e d u ca tio n , academ ies o f m usic, agricul tu ra l universities, academ ies o f econom ics (57 qu estio n n aires w ere d istrib u te d , and 46 w ere re tu rn e d ).

T h e survey covered research goals n o te d above, an d th e q u e stio n n aire to u c h e d u p o n th e fol low ing areas:

th e state o f library collections in 1994, w ith re sp ec t to P olish, foreign a n d E n g lish language pu b licatio n s a n d Polish, foreign a n d E nglish language periodicals; library acq uisitions d u rin g th e years 1990-1 9 9 4 (divided as above); th e average processing tim e fo r each item (th e average len g th o f tim e from arrival at th e library to th e tim e it becom es avail able to bo rro w ers);

th e n u m b e r o f borrow ers in th e years 19 9 0 -1 9 9 4 (divided in to on-sitc use and take h o m e loans), th e average processing tim e fo r ord ers, a n d the n u m b e r o f ord ers w hich w ere n o t filled, w ere also included; in teriibrary loans fo r th e years 1990-1994 (divided in to loans to o th e r Polish libraries, loans to foreign libraries, loans from o th e r P olish libraries, loans from foreign libraries, percen tag e o f orders filled fo r o th e r libraries a n d by o th e r libraries) a n d also th e average processing tim e for a typical loan;

th e p ercen tag e o f th e library’s collection in p e rm a n e n t u se (estim ated);

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p e rc e n t o f a n n u al acquisitions, w hich w ere re q u e ste d b y borrow ers;

th e n u m b e r o f h o u rs a w eek th e library is available for u sers (in clu d in g S aturdays a n d S undays);

• special form s o f loans (24 h o u r loans, w eek en d loans etc.);

rem oval o f o u td a te d m aterials (relega tio n );

• a survey o f u se r n eed s.

T h e resu lts w ere e la b o ra ted in term s o f area and fun ctio n al g ro u p s, th a t is th e y w ere divided into th e follow ing g ro u p s o f libraries:

in d e p e n d e n t libraries o f scientific o r research in stitu tio n s (in clu d in g physics, biology, ch em istry , tech n ical a n d h u m a n ities libraries);

libraries affiliated w ith ed u ca tio n in stitu tions (in clu d in g university, polytechnic, m ed ical, a g ricu ltu ral, ed u catio n al a n d fine arts libraries).

T h e n u m e ric a l results are p re sen te d as arith m etic m ean s a n d it w as u ltim ately decid ed , for practical reaso n s, n o t to p re sen t th e stan d a rd d eviation as a m e a su re o f diffusion. T h e relatively n a rro w e x te n t o f th e d ata, which rarely in c lu d e d m o re th a n te n u n its, is u n d o u b te d ly b e tte r c h aracterised b y giving the extrem e a n d a rith m e tic m e a n values an d m ed ian s, especially fo r re a d ers w ho do n o t use statistics o n a re g u la r basis. T h e d ata w ere p laced in tables. D a sh e s in som e places indicate th a t it w as n o t p ossible to o b ta in th e d a ta in q uestion.

Collections M onographs

T h e resu lts o f th e survey are s h o w n in T a b le I. T h e d a ta c o n ce rn in g th e n u m b e r o f volum es an d also th e e x te n t o f an n u al increases are highly cred ib le, w ith re sp ec t to th e ease w ith w hich they w ere obtained. In only a few cases could it be suspected that only the resources o f th e m a in library w ere given (alth o u g h it was stressed in th e q u e stio n n aire th a t d a ta c on cern in g th e size o f th e collections o f d e p artm e n tal libraries w ere also to be given).

It w as m u c h m o re difficult to d e te rm in e w hat so rt o f role th e c o llections in foreign languages play. In m o st cases th e d ata are estim ated , an d in u n iversity libraries it w as c om pletely im possible to o b ta in th e se data.

In spite o f this, it c a n b e assu m ed th a t the in fo rm atio n o b ta in e d is accurate. E vidence for this is th e fact th a t very sim ilar results w ere

Library Management Volume 20 • Number 3 -1999 • 159-167

o b ta in e d a fter establishing th e share o f the collections in foreign languages in th e an n u al increases. (In th e table th e arith m etic m e a n o f th e an n u al acquisitions fo r th e years 1990-94 is given.) T h e collected d a ta fo rm th e basis, u p o n w hich th e c o m pleteness o f P o lish libraries* collections in relatio n to w orld resources particu larly in term s o f an n u al increases, c an be estim ated . I t is necessary, how ever, to establish b o th th e degree o f d u p licatio n o f resources, in p a rtic u la r in acquisitions, an d th e n u m b e r o f differen t tid e s already in th e collections and b ein g a cq u ired , a n d n o t ju st th e n u m b e r o f volum es. H e re , how ever, th e research er is co n fro n ted w ith ex trem e difficulties, because only a sm all p a rt o f P olish library collections is listed in c o m p u te r catalogues. T h e only o p tio n is a n expensive statistical analysis o f ap p ro p riately selected sam ples o f collections and acquisitions.

Serials

E stim a tin g th e size o f periodical collections tu rn e d o u t to b e th e m o st difficult task in th e entire survey. T o a certain degree this is th e fault o f th e a u th o rs o f th e p re sen t p ap er, w ho did n o t form ulate clearly eno u g h w h e th er individual issues, or titles w ere to b e co u n ted . A lthough titles are m o st im p o rtan t fo r th e overall evaluation o f collections, it s h ould be realised th a t library statistics o p erate o n th e basis of volum es a n d th a t it is easier fo r library p erso n n el to fill o u t th e q u estionnaires b y giving d a ta th a t refers to volum es. In effect, m o st qu estio n n aires p ro v id ed d ata th a t concern volum es. All th e sam e, a certain n u m b e r o f resp o n d en ts d ecid ed to give th e n u m b e r o f tides.

G re a t difficulties w ere c au sed by the evalua tio n o f th e e x te n t o f foreign, especially English language, periodicals in th e collections. In T a b le II, size refers exclusively to volum es. A t tim es, how ever, it w as possible to establish the n u m b e r o f titles. T h e se d a ta are referred to in the text, since they apply to only a few cases and are obtained on th e basis o f a smaller amount o f d a ta th a n th o se w hich refers to volum es.

P o lytechnic libraries have 1,320 periodical titles (the average fo r fo u r libraries) o f w hich 42 p e r c en t are foreign periodicals, 17 p e r c en t o f the titles are in English. A ccording to th e an n u al increase in v olum es, th e a m o u n t o f titles a cq u ired d o es n o t exceed 600. F ro m the c o m parison, it tu rn s o u t th a t fo r one tid e, there are ab o u t th re e volum es p e r year. T h is is no t, how ever, in fo rm atio n o b tain ed o n the basis o f a large e n o u g h sam ple a n d it s h o u ld only be tre a te d as a n e stim ate.

Mirosław Górny, Artur Jazdon and Piotr Nowak Volume 20 • Number 3 •1999 • 159-167 Table I Size and language of collections (monographs) and their annual increase

Type of library Number of libraries Collections in 1994 in volumes (1) average (2) minimum (3) median (4) maximum Collections in 1994-percentage of collections (1) in foreign languages (2) in English Annual increase in the years 1990-94 (1) average (2) minimum (3) median (4) maximum Increase in collections in the years 1990-94 percentage of collection! (1) in foreign languages (2) in English Physics libraries 3 (1) 21,000 (1)88 (1) 140 (1)68 (2) 15,000 (2)88 (2) 12 (2)61

(3) - (data from one library) (3) 141

(4) 26,000 (4) 267 Chemistry libraries 7 (1) 9,500 (1)89 (1) 119 (1)85 (2) 2,500 (2) 80 (2) 67 (2)79 (3) 7,600 (3) 108 (4) 27,400 ₍₄₎ 219 Humanities libraries 10 (1) 50,000 (1)28 (1) 813 (1)25 (2) 3,000 (2)15 (2) 54 (2)14 (3) 37,000 (3) 715 (4) 145,000 (4) 3,100 Technical libraries 6 (1) 10,000 (1)58 (1) 124 (1)53 (2) 611 (2)48 (2) 84 (2)40 (3) 5,410 ₍₃₎ 84 (4) 24.400 (4) 165 Biology libraries 17 (1) 17,779 (1)76 (1) 200 (1)64 (2) 403 (2) 72 (2) 31 (2)56 (3) 9,766 ₍₃₎ 88 (4) 114,489 (4) 1,295 University libraries 9 (1 )'1,043,000 - (1) 14,500 (1)15 (2) 410,000 (2) 4,972 (2) 4 (one library) (3) 796,000 (3) 17,261 (4 );>,530,000 (4) 27,600 Polytechnic libraries 12 (1) 370,000 (1) 25 (1) 6,500 (1)13 (2) 111,000 (2)7 (2) 2,000 (2) 9 (3) 251,000 (3) 4,300 (4) 937,000 (4) 16,200 Agricultural libraries 6 (1) 243,000 (1)30 (1) 3,720 (1)16 (2) 114,000 (2) 20 (2) 1,800 (2)9 (3) 190,000 (3) 2,000 (4) 430,000 (4) 8,000 Fine arts libraries 6 (1) 200,000 (1)30 (1) 317 (1) 23 (2) 14,000 (2) 10 (2) 180 (2)12 (3) 16,000 (3) 270 (4) 28,000 (4) 620 Medical lib r a r ie s 8 (1) 200,000 (1)28 (1) 3,654 (1)26 (2) 56,000 (2)23 (2) 2,000 (2)23 (3) 170,000 (3) 3,300 (4) 326,000 (4) 6,600 Pedagogical libraries 9 (1) 331,000 (1)11 (1) 8,000 (1) 6 (2) 141,000 (2)4 (2) 4,000 (2) 5 (3) 241,000 (3) 7,200 (4) 489,000 (4) '15,000 Physical education 5 (1) 77,000 (1) 16 (1) 2,027 (1)6 libraries (2) 37,000 (2)12 (2) 1,300 (2)5 (3) 85,000 (3) 1,400 (4) 113,000 (4) 2,795

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Mirosław Górny, Artur Jazdon and Piotr Nowak Volume 20 • Number 3 ■ 1999 • 159-167

Table II Size and language profile of periodical collections and their annual increase Numbers of

periodicals Annual increase

in volumes of periodicals Type of library Number of libraries investigated in 1994 (1) average (2) minimum (3) median (4) maximum Periodicals in 1994 in volumes (1) in foreign languages (2) in English in the years 1990-94 (1) average (2) minimum (3) median (4) maximum Increase in collections in the years 1990-94 percentage of collections (1) in foreign languages (2) in English Physics 3 (1) 12,000 (1)98 -libraries (2) 5,700 Í3) — (4) 17,700 (data from two libraries)

Chemistry 7 (1) 13,850 (1)93 (1) 214 (1) -libraries (2) 4,189 (2) 83 (2) 89 (2) 82 (3) 9,357 (3) 179 (4) 27,824 (4) 372 Humanities 10 (1) 17,538 - (1) 326 (1) 54 libraries (2) 998 (2) 50 (2) 44 (3) 1,866 (3) 85 (4) 40,000 (4) 1,242 Technical 2 (1) 9,062 (1)64 (1) 179 (1) 63 libraries (2) 552 (3) — (2) 36 (2) 110 Ci) — (2) 35 (4) 17,572 (4) 247 Biology 17 (1) 11,959 (1)86 (1) 345 (1) 80 libraries (2) 57 (2)69 (2) 61 (2) 67 (3) 6,641 (3) 220 (4) 34,130 (4) 925 University 9 (1) 341,892 - (1) 6,807 (1) 33 libraries (2) 70,777 (2) 1,343 (2) -(3) 444,742 (3) 6,135 (4) 100,610 (4) 14,541 Polytechnic 12 (1) 94,349 (1)28 (1) 1,710 (1) 54 libraries (2) 4,729 (2) - (2) 293 (2) 37 (3) 75,222 (3) 1,784 (4) 214,030 (4) 2,599 Agricultural 6 (1) 90,037 (1)44 (1) 1,608 (1) 42 libraries (2) 46,259 (2) 20 (2) 886 (2) 24 (3) 67,000 (3) 1,390 (4) 189,853 (4) 3,155 Fine arts 6 (1) 2,219 - (1) 67 (1) 40 libraries (2) 943 (2) 19 (2) -(3) 1,378 (3) 52 (4) 4,335 (4) 129 Medical 8 (1) 49,810 (1) 59 (1) 650 (1) 61 libraries (2) 11,526 (2)54 (2) 269 (2) 54 (3) 44,510 (3) 495 (4) 81,999 (4) 1,059 Pedagogical 9 (1) 28,525 (1)24 (1) 938 (1) 19 libraries (2) 11,560 (2)12 (2) 405 (2) 9 (3) 24,633 (3) 952 (4) 41,200 (4) 1,728 Physical 5 (1) 14,988 (1)26 (1) 609 (1) 20 education (2) 5,660 (2) 9 (2) 144 (2 )-libraries (3) 17,631 (3) 593 (4) 21,672 (4) 624

Mirosław Górny, Artur Jazdon and Piotr Nowak T h e difference was p ro b ab ly cau sed by th e fact th a t som e libraries gave th e n u m b e r o f titles in th e ir collections, a n d n o t th o se th a t were subscribed to in a given year. A n a tte m p t was m ade to establish w h e th er th e n u m b e r o f collected periodicals in 1994 deviated fro m the arithm etic m ean o f th e n u m b e r o f collected periodicals in the years 1990-94. In th e case o f polytechnic libraries th e resu lt in d icated th a t, in 1 9 9 4 ,2 4 p e r c en t few er volum es o f Polish periodicals w ere o b ta in e d (th ere was an average increase o f te n titles); 21 p e r c en t few er volum es o f foreign periodicals (a b o u t 65 few er titles on average were p u rch ased ) a n d 15 p e r c en t few er English language volum es (on average there was a n increase o f 77 titles).

In m edical school libraries, th e re are, on average, ab o u t 1,517 perio d ical titles (currently ab o u t 2 0 0 -2 5 0 titles are collected; o ne library gave the n u m b e r as 7 3 1 ). In 1994, 22 p e r cen t m ore volum es o f P o lish periodicals th a n the average from the years 1990-94 (an increase o f 81 titles); a 4 p e r c e n t increase in volum es o f foreign periodicals (30 m o re titles); a n d a 16 p er c en t increase in th e n u m b e r o f E nglish language volum es (60 m ore titles).

T h e average university library h a d 2,349 tides (34 p e r c en t foreign a n d 17 p e r c en t in English) and c u rre n d y h as 2,2 7 0 . T h e re was a fall in th e n u m b e r o f volum es a cq u ired o f foreign periodicals o f 7 p e r c en t (a 2 8 p e r c ent increase in tid es), a n d a n increase in the n u m b e r o f volum es o f P o lish periodicals (a 22 p e r c en t fall in th e n u m b e r o f tides).

In college o f e d u catio n libraries, th e n u m b e r o f collected titles is c u rre n tly ab o u t 3 0 0 -3 5 0 (one library indicated th a t it has 431 titles in its collections). T h e re w as a fall in th e n u m b e r o f v o lu m esacq u ired in th ecaseo fP o lish p erio d icals o f 19 p e r cent, o f foreign periodicals 28 p e r cent, and o f English language periodicals 20 p e r cent.

In agricultural college libraries, collections cu rren d y co n tain a b o u t 5 0 0 to 550 periodical tides. T h e re was a decrease in th e n u m b e r o f volum es acq u ired o f 29 p e r c en t in th e case o f Polish periodicals, o f 26 p e r c en t in th e case o f foreign periodicals, a n d o f 39 p e r c en t in the case o f E n glish la n g u a g e p erio d ica ls.

In physical ed u catio n libraries, th e re are cu rren d y a b o u t 2 0 0 to 2 2 0 tid es (tw o libraries gave exact n u m b ers o f 166 a n d 194). T h e re was a decrease o f volum es a cq u ire d o f Polish periodicals o f 26 p e r c e n t a n d o f foreign periodicals o f 16 p e r cent.

Special technical libraries c u rre n d y have o n average ab o u t 60 tides. In th ree libraries d u ring the years 1990-1994, a decrease in th e n u m b e r o f volum es a cq u ired o f 68 p e r c e n t was

Volume 20 ■ Number 3 -1999 159-167

observed: o f 21 P olish tid es a n d 38 foreign tides, a n d o ne E nglish language tide.

Special biology libraries h a d collections o f 100-120 tid es o n average (in th e collection o f an average library th e re w ere issues o f 23 4 tid es). In the years 1 9 90-94, th e n u m b e r o f English language volum es d eclin ed by 4 p e r cent, the n u m b e r o f o th e r foreign language volum es by 5 p e r c e n t w hile th e re w as a 2 p e r c en t increase in Polish periodicals. T h r e e libraries in d icated a decrease in th e n u m b e r o f Polish titles acquired o f 1 p e r cent, o f foreign tid es o f 13 p e r cent, a nd E nglish language tid es o f 18 p e r c en t d u rin g the above m e n tio n e d period.

Special c h em istry libraries h a d an average o f 70 p eriodical tid es in th e ir collections. In the years 1990-94, th e n u m b e r o f volum es in creased by 37 p e r c en t, acco rd in g to d a ta fro m th re e libraries.

H u m an ities libraries h a d o n average b etw een 100 an d 250 tides. In th e years covered b y this investigation, th e n u m b e r o f collected Polish volum es fell b y 19 p e r c en t, E nglish language volum es b y 25 p e r c e n t a n d o th e r foreign language volum es by 2 0 p e r cent. A n increase o f te n tid es fo r P olish periodicals w as n o te d , as w ere a n eig h t-tid e increase o f E nglish language periodicals a n d a d ecrease o f te n tides am ong o th e r foreign language periodicals.

P ercen tage o f collection s b ased upon u ser requests and the degree o f u se o f the library collections

T a b le H I contains d a ta co n cern in g th e share o f collections b ased u p o n u se r req u ests, an evaluation o f th e percen tag e o f collections used, an d also d ata co n cern in g research o n u se r n e ed s.

T h e in fo rm atio n in T a b le EH is com posed o f individual e stim ates given by librarians. T h e results th erefo re are m o re a p ic tu re o f the opinions o f the lib rarian s them selves, th a n the tru e situation. A ll th e sam e, if th e experience o f library p erso n n el is tak en in to co nsideration, it sh ould b e e xpected th a t th e d a ta d o n o t significandy differ fro m the tru e state o f affairs. T h e sm all ran g e o f variatio n o f th e m ean, w hich characterises th e degree to w hich collections are utilised in all libraries, is interesting. P erh ap s this results fro m th e inclin atio n to avoid m arginal evaluations. It s h o u ld b e clarified h e re th a t the co n ce p t “ collections c ontin u ally u tilised ” was n o t exacdy defined. I t w as felt th a t precise n u m eric p aram eters co u ld n o t b e u tilised, and th a t all re sp o n d en ts w o u ld u n d e rsta n d the idea b e h in d th e expression in a sim ilar m an n er.

Book selection (relegation) E x act in fo rm atio n is given in T a b le IV.

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Volume 20 ■ Number 3 ■ 1999 ■ 159-167

Research of the needs of

Type of library Number of libraries in study Percent of collections on order for users in

the general increase of collections The use of collections (estimate of librarians)

readers (a) number of libraries, which conduct systematic research (b) number of libraries, which conduct sporadic research libraries Chemistry libraries Humanities libraries Technical libraries Biology libraries University libraries Polytechnic libraries Agricultural libraries Fine arts libraries Medical libraries Pedagogical libraries Physical e duca tion libraries 10 17 (1) 66 (2) 25 (3) 50 (4) 100 (1) 99 (2) 95 (3) 100 (4)100 (1) 53 (2) 1 (3) 70 (4) 100 (1) 82 (2) 40 (3) 90 (4) 100 (1) 71 (2) 3 (3) 80 (4) 90 (1) 32 (2) 1 (3) 20 (4) 90 (1) 65 (2) 15 (3) 75 (4) 95 (1) 41 (2) 5 (3) 30 (4) 80 (1) 43 (2) 20 (3) 35 (4) 70 (1) 40 (2) 23 (3) 34 (4) 60 (1) 22 (2) 5 (3) 25 (4) 50 (1) 21 (2) 10 (3) 15 (4) 40 (1) 59 (2) 30 (3) 60 (4) 80 (1) 52 (2) 10 (3) 40 (4) 80 (1) 53 (2) 20 (3) 60 (4) 80 (1) 45 (2) 35 (3) 40 (4) 60 (1) 52 (2) 5 (3) 50 (4) 100 (1) 34 (2) 12 (3) 35 (4) 50 (1) 48 (2) 30 (3) 60 (4) 80 (1) 46 B ) 39 (3) 40 (4) 60 (1) 60 (2) 25 (3) 40 (4) 80 (1) 55 (2) 19 (3) 60 (4) 70 (1) 45 (2) 30 (3) 45 (4) 60 (1) 60 (2) 50 (3) 60 (4) 75 (a) 1 (b) 1 (a) 3 (b) 3 (a) 3 (b) 7 (a) 2 (b) 6 (a) 3 (b) 6 (b) 3 (a) 1 <b)2 (a) 2 (b) 4 (a) 2 (b) 5 (b) 3

Mirosław Górny, Artur Jazdon and Piotr Nowak Table IV Removal of outdated materials (relegation)

Volume 20 • Number 3 ■1999 • 159-167 Type of library Number of libraries in study Number of libraries conducting material removal Share of material removed as a percentage of total collection (1) average (2) minimum (3) media (4) maximum Share of removed materials in annual turnover Physics 3 none -libraries Chemistry ₇ 2 - -libraries sporadically Humanities 10 1+6 _ — libraries sporadically Technical 8 1+3 - -libraries sporadically

Biology 17 2+5 (1) 1 one library

libraries sporadically (2) 0.5 indicated 10,

(3) 0.5 one library (4) 2 indicated 110 University 9 6 (1) 0.4 (1) 34 libraries (2) 0.1 (2) 5 (3) 0.2 (3) 10 (4) 1.2 (4) 90 Polytechnic 12 11 (1) 2 (1) 37 libraries (2) 0.02 (2) 1.2 (3) 0.9 (3) 33 (4) 5 (4) 95 Agricultural 6 5+1 (1) 1 (1) 27 libraries sporadically (2) 0.1 (2) 10 (3) 0.3 (3) 20 (4) 3 (4) 63

Fine arts 6 3+1 one library one library

libraries sporadically indicated 0.3 indicated 18

Medical 8 6 (1) 1-2 (1) 67 libraries (2) 0.3 (2) 50 (3) 1 (3) 50 (4) 2 (4) 100 Pedagogical 9 8 (1) 0.7 (1) 28 libraries (2) 0.2 (2) 7 (3) 0.6 (3) 20 (4) 1.5 (4) 55 Physical 5 3 (1) 0.5 (1) 15 education (2) 0.3 (2) 7 libraries (3) 0.3 (3) 10 (4) 0.9 (4) 30 Cataloguing C ataloguing tim e

T h e d ata, are given in T a b le V, is com pletely estim ated.

Circulation

C irculation in the years 1990-94 T h e results are collected in T a b le VI. T h e g reatest d o u b ts are c re ated b y th e figures co n cern in g o n -site fa cilities. In libraries w ith op en stacks, only e stim ated n u m b ers can be

given. T h e results in th e table are p robably low er th a n in reality. I t w o u ld b e difficult to establish w h at p e rc e n t o f requests w ere n o t filled. S o m e libraries gave e stim ated figures, som e gave p recise figures, an d som e did n o t give a ny figures.

F igures dealing w ith services fo r one year are given in th e table, b u t o n the basis o f d ata from five years. D u rin g this p e rio d th e n u m b e r o f users in e d u catio n al libraries increased by a b o u t 50 p e r c e n t (m edical school libraries are an exception). T h is n o tab le increase is related to an increase in th e n u m b e r o f stu d en ts.

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Mirosław Górny, Artur Jazdon and Piotr Nowak Table V Cataloguing time

Volume 20 ■Number 3 • 1999 159-167

Average Maximum Minimum

Number of cataloguing cataloguing cataloguing

Type of library libraries in study time time time

Physics libraries 3 2 days 4 days 1 day

Chemistry libraries 7 2 days 7 days 1 day

Humanities libraries 10 15 days 90 days 1 day

Technical libraries 6 1 day 1 day 1 day

Biology libraries 17 6 days 30 days 1 day

University libraries 9 6 months 15 months 2 months

Polytechnic libraries 12 1 month 6 months 3 days

Agricultural libraries 6 1 month 2 months 5 days

Fine arts libraries 6 1 month 6 months 1 day

Medical libraries 8 10 days 1 month 1 day

Pedagogical libraries 9 43 days 4 months 1 month

Physical education libraries 5 7 days 7 days 1 day

Table VI Number of loans in the years 1990-94

Percent of

Number Number of on-site Number of take home requests which

Type of library

of libraries in study

loans (in-library use)

min. max. ave. min.

loans

max. ave.

were not filled min. max. ave.

Physics libraries 3 - - 43,000 (1 lib.) 96 6,450 2,444 - -

-Chemistry libraries 7 400 33,000 9,755 13 10,000 4,000 5 5 5 Humanities libraries 10 452 27,600 7,000 127 11,347 2,500 2 20 9 Technical libraries 6 483 8,000 2,706 563 1,625 1,050 1 10 4 Biology libraries 17 81 22,400 3,942 213 9,600 2,677 7 31 17 University libraries 9 116,000 674,000 357,000 5,000 273,000 125,000 2 28 14 Polytechnic libraries 12 56,000 505,000 219,000 20,000 297,000 99,000 2 46 18 Agricultural libraries 6 16,000 134,000 61,000 17,000 134,000 54,000 2 20 11

Fine arts libraries 6 500 8,000 4,000 2,400 25,000 10,000 3 59 21

Medical libraries 8 13,200 160,000 50,000 9,600 131,000 40,000 2 3 2

Pedagogical libraries 9 23,000 293,000 106,000 21,000 209,000 73,000 4 25 11

Physical education libraries 5 17,000 78,000 37,000 8,000 22,000 14,000 2 16 10

Interlibrary loans

T h e d a ta c o n cern in g th e degree o f req u ests - given in T a b le V II - are m o sd y estim ates. T h e d ata c o n cern in g th e pro cessin g tim e fo r interlibrary loans are also p rim arily estim ates. D a ta on th e n u m b e r o f su ch loans in o ne y ear m ade on th e basis o f d a ta fro m five years are also given in th e table.

Types o f services and tim es o f access U n iversity libraries are accessible o n average 64 h o u rs a w eek (m ax im u m 75 h o u rs a n d m ini m u m 49 h o u rs ). O nly o ne library is n o t accessible o n Saturdays. F o u r libraries are also o p en o n S undays, a lth o u g h o ne o f th e m is o pen on S undays only d u rin g e xam perio d s. Six libraries have special services (alth o u g h som e o f

th e m are only sporadically available); th ree libraries d o n o t perfo rm any special services.

Physical e d u catio n libraries are op en to th eir u sers o n average 53 h o u rs (m in im u m 43 ho u rs, m ax im u m 65 h o u rs). O nly o ne is n o t o p en on S atu rd ay s, a n d tw o are o p en o n Sundays. F o u r libraries have special types o f services.

M edical school libraries are o p en an average o f 64 h o u rs a w eek. O n e is o pen o n S unday. Five libraries have special services, tw o have th e m sporadically a n d o ne does n o t have th e m a t all.

Polytechnic libraries are available to u sers o n average 59 ho u rs a week. All are closed on Sundays, a n d n in e are closed o n Saturdays. F o u r have special services, an d fo u r have th e m sporadically.

A gricultural libraries are o p en 56 h o u rs a week. O n e is o pen o n Sundays a n d o ne is o pen

Mirosław Górny, Artur Jazdon and Piotr Nowak Volume 20 • Number 3 • 1999 159-167 Table VII Interlibrary loans

Average Average Average Average Percentage Percentage

number of number of number of number of of requests of requests

Number of loans to loans to loans from loans from filled from filled to Average

Type of libraries other foreign other foreign outsiae outside turnaround

library in study libraries libraries libraries libraries institutions institutions time

Physics libraries 3 595 3 (1 library) 31 - - ₇₀ _

Chemistry libraries 7 130 - 225 7 (1 library) 84 96 Up to 2 week

Humanities libraries 10 263 3 (2 libraries) 70 7 (5 libraries) 92 92

-Technical libraries 6 71 2 (1 library) 217 3 (2 libraries) 91 96 up to 2 week:

Biology libraries 17 534 2 (4 libraries) 165 4 (3 libraries) 74 83

-University libraries 9 1,090 81 (7 libraries) 495 84 (8 libraries) 78 76 4 weeks

Polytechnic libraries 12 841 25 (10 libraries) 756 156 (10 libraries) 77 71 26 days

Agricultural libraries 6 418 3 (5 libraries 666 14 (5 libraries) 70 68 3 weeks

Fine arts libraries 6 48 10 (1 library) 27 2 (4 libraries) 84 84 17 days

Medical libraries 8 1,122 2 (6 libraries) 1,451 60 (6 libraries) 74 76 16 days

Pedagogical libraries 9 49 2 (2 libraries) 241 8 (7 libraries) 64 56 3 weeks

Physical education libraries 5 43 - 143 3 (2 libraries) 88 86 1 month

o n S aturdays. T h re e libraries have special services, tw o sporadically, a n d o ne n o t a t all.

L ibraries in fine arts schools are o p en 37 h o u rs a w eek. All are closed on Sundays an d one is o p en o n S aturdays. F o u r libraries have special services.

Specialised libraries w ere n o t tak en into a cc o u n t h ere, b ecau se th e y have only a few p e rm a n e n t lenders (in g eneral, th e ir collections are n o t available to s tu d e n ts). A n d alth o u g h these libraries usually d o have special services, th ere is usually n o special n e ed for th eir collections to b e available o n S atu rd ay s a n d Sundays.

Conclusion

T h e findings o f this stu d y are b a se d o n survey data g ath ered in 1995. Events a re h ap p en in g quickly. U n d o u b te d ly , the fiscal, technologi cal, an d political e n v iro n m en t in Polish research libraries h as changed since 1995. As far as we know (o u r know ledge is b ased on

c o n tacts w ith librarians) m o st o f th e surveyed in d icato rs seem s to have reach ed a p lateau. L arge increases have b e en re c o rd e d only for services (exclude in terlen d in g ). L ibraries are called u p o n to serve a h ig h er n u m b e r o f s tu d en ts.

P olish libraries n e ed p ro g ram s o f co-opera tio n for m o re efficient u se o f library resources. M o st o f th e libraries h ave joined to g e th e r in a u to m a tio n p rojects, b u t all o f th e m are co n tin u in g to a llocate m aterials b u d g ets in a trad itio n al m a n n er.

Further reading

Dudzińska, E. (1995), "Import of serials at a time of economic change", Polish Libraries Today,Vol. 3, pp. 35-49, 71.

(The) Inventory of Scientific Journals and Other Sources of Scientific Information being Imported into Poland in the Years 1992-98.Http7/wwwtech.netpl7PFUN/ Kaminski, S. (1995), "Contemporary problems of acquisi

tions in Polish university libraries", Polish Libraries Today,Vol. 3, pp. 35-48.

Selected indicators of the range and use of printed resources in Polish academic libraries

Library Management

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©

Contents

Selected indicators of

the range and use of

printed resources in

Polish academic

libraries

Mirosław Górny

Artur Jazdon and

Piotr Nowak