Dissertation Information for John D. Zimmerman NAME: - John D. Zimmerman
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- Case Western Reserve University (USA) (1982)
ADVISORS: - William M. Shaw Jr.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Christinger L. Tomer - Donald R. Whitman - Thomas Gleason Morris
MPACT Status: Complete - Except Indecipherables
Title: The Measurement of the Scattering and Obsolescence of Periodicals
Abstract: The exponential growth of periodical literature
has resultsd in demands for more library shelf
space and higher library subscription
expenditures. Shelf space and expenditures have
fallen short of demand. The literature of
librariansh{p reports that the space problem has been addressed by weeding
less-used titles and volumes from library
shelves. The financial problem has been
addressed by cancelling subscriptionse Studies of scattering and obsolescence provide information relevant to weeding and
cancellation decisions. Scattering is the
distribution of uses among titles in a
periodicals collection. In a scattering study,
titles are ranked by the number of uses recived
in a ferquency of use study. Lower ranking
titles are then considered for weeding or
cancellation before higher ranking titles.
'Obsolescence is the decline in use of
periodical volumes with increasing age. In an
obsolescence study, the number of frequency
uses reported for the volumes published in each
year is plotted against the age of the volumes.
A cutoff date is established and volumes older
than the cutoff date are considered for
weeding. Several questions have been raised concerning measurement of scattering and obsolescence.
First, the accuracy, stability, and practicality of
frequency data have been questioned. The use of 'binary
data has been proposed as an alternative. Second, the
relevance of frequency data to problems of shelf space
and, cancellation has been questioned. As an
alternative, the use of normalized data has been proposed.'
Third, assuming that normalized data should be used,
there is the question of which normalization
factor to use. Fourth, researchers have asked
whether liberal arts and science libraries
display different patterns of obsolescence. The present study investigated all of these questions. Scattering and obsolescence were
,studied in two major libraries of Case Western Reserve University. One of the libraries was a liberal
arts library. The other was a science library.
Each. question was investigated by comparing
appropriate data. In the investigations of both
scattering and obsolescence, volume-normalized,
space-normalized, and page-normalized data were
used. In addition, the scattering studies
employed cost-netmalized data. The scattering study had several consequences.
Concerning whether frequency and binary data
provide similar information, the study was
inconclusive. However, the study supported the
conclusion that normalized frequency data and
normalized binary data provide different
information. Although it was concluded that
volume-normalization, space-normalization and
page-normalization supply similar information,
volume-normalization was found the most
practical. It was concluded that cost-
normalized data provide different results than
other normalized data. Finally because data
normalized to volumes, space, and pages
produced d.ifferent results than data which had
not been normalized, and normalized data was
more relevant to space decisions, use of data
normalized to one of these factor was
recommended for studies concerned with shelf
space. Regarding whether' cost-normalized data and data which have not been normalized provide similar results, the study was inconclusive. The obsolescence study also had several
consequences. Similarity of information
supplied by' frequency and binary data
supported the conclusion that binary data can
be substituted for frequency data in
obsolescence studies. The results also
supported ) the conclusion that normalized
binary data can be substituted for normalized
frequency data in obsolescence studies. In addition, data normalized to volumes, space,
and pages were found to provide similar information. However, volume-
normalization was form the most practical.
Plots of normalized data were characterized by
regions, knowledge of which was advantageous
for decision-making. This regionalization and
the greater relevance of normalized data to
space distribution contributed to the
conclusion that use of normalized data is
preferable in obsolescence studies. Finally,
the obsolescence patterns of the liberal arts
and science libraries differed substantially.
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MPACT Scores for John D. Zimmerman A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:01:21
Advisors and Advisees Graph
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