An Analysis of Out-of-Print Book Orders in a Nigerian University Library

Abstract

An analysis of out-of-print (OP) from the 5,553 books ordered by the University of Ilorin Library in Nigeria from 1993 through 1996 were carried out with a view to determining any significant variations in the rates of the OP books within different disciplines, and to ascertaining the average in-print life-spans of the books in the disciplines. Results showed that the OP rates of the books in the humanities, the social sciences and the sciences did not vary significantly while the average in-print life-spans of the books in the three major branches of knowledge stood at 11.32, years, 6.19 years and 7.44 years respectively. Libraries are enjoined to order their selections as soon as they are published or at least within the average life-spans for the books to avoid wasting time on possible out-of-print orders.
Short Communications.


(African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science: 2000 10 (1): 55-62)