Toward assessing in-house use of print resources in the undergraduate academic library: an inter-institutional study

This article is an inter-institutional study of patrons' browsing behavior in two university Libraries. We tested an unobtrusive method of measuring b rowsing over one semester and provided comparative data for the two institu tions during the same time period. Data were based on pre-selected samples of prominent monographs and representative serials in several disciplines. By design, a substantial portion of each corresponding sample overlapped be tween the two institutions. The results revealed extremely low frequencies of browsing in both institutions. This conclusion was supported in all disc iplines, both for works shared in the corresponding samples and unique sele ctions. The study combined methodological refinement with an extension beyo nd our previous research. Although presenting a method for discerning trend s in student behavior, in the broadest terms the study has direct bearing o n the uses of print resources and collection development assessment during a time of unprecedented expansion of information technology. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.