Biennial Report
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LIBRARY
1936-38

I hereby present my biennial report as director of libraries for the biennium
1936-738:

UNIVERSITY BOOK HOLDINGS ON JULY 1, 1938

At Lawrence 286,014
At Medical School (bound) 14,362

Total volumes 300,376
This represents an increase of 21,909 volumes since my last report.

SERVICE

Circulation statistics show only a fraction of the service that a library
renders its patrons, but as they represent about the only phase that can be
expressed in figures they are at least useful in indicating the use made of the
library.

1932-33 1935-36 = 1936-37. 1937-38
Books issued at Watson Library _... 292,846 297,671 319,313 315,090
These figures represent serious reading, as the library does not buy current

fiction.

SHELF SPACE

The library must have more shelf space for its books. Without this relief it is
rapidly heading into a chaotic condition that no amount of administrative skill
can avert. Books without shelves can neither be preserved nor found when
wanted. ‘The Watson Library book stack, which was inadequate to shelve the
book collection when it was built fourteen years ago, has a capacity of 121,000
volumes. Shelving in the reading rooms, and emergency stacks set in the middle
of corridors, have raised the capacity of the whole building to 175,000 volumes.

THE PROBLEM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catalogued books on campus 285,000
Stock of Science Bulletins, Catalogues, duplicates 15,000

Total to be shelved ——— 300,000
Shelving capacity of the campus 222,000
Book surplus 78,000
Storage room (when finished) 50,000
Books without shelves 28,000

 

SHELVING CAPACITY
Watson Libraray:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stack 120,000
Room and corridor shelving 55,000
Storage room 50,000
225,060
Branches capacity 47,000
Total capacity 272,000
Total books on campus 300,000
Books without shelving 28,000

 

Annual increase in books 9,000