Biennial Report
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LIBRARY
1938-'40

I hereby present my biennial report as director of libraries for the biennium 1938-40:
UNIVERSITY BOOK HOLDINGS ON JULY 1, 1940

 

 

 

At Lawrence 303,365
At Medical School (bound) 16,717
Total volumes 320,082
This represents an increase of 19,706 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 1937-38 1938-39 __-1939-’40
Books issued at Watson Library 292,846 297,671 315,090 322,796 +=. 317,548
4 These figures represent serious reading, as the library does not buy current
ction.

 

 

 

PREPARATION
1937-38 1938-39 ©=—-19 39-40
Book Titles Ordered 4,169 4,980 4,214
Titles Cataloged 3,988 4,166 4,269
Volumes Cataloged and Marked —-__-__ 12,964 14,077 12,896
Catalog Cards Prepated 2 sae aa 33,147 35,700

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, emergency stacks set in the middle of corridors, and the new
storage room have raised the capacity of the whole building to 255,000 volumes.

THE PROBLEM

 

 

 

Cataloged books on campus 303,365
Stock of Science Bulletins, Cataloges, duplicates ttt. _ 15,000

Total to be shelved ———— 318,365
Shelving capacity of the campus 302,000
Books without shelves 16,365

 

SHELVING CAPACITY
Watson Library:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stack 120,000
Room and corridor shelving 55,000
Storage room 80,000
—— = 255,000
Branches capacity 47,000
Total capacity 302,000
Total books on campus 318,365
Books without shelves 16,365

Annual increase in books 10,000