OCLC Online Computer Library Center OCLC Research: Collection Assessment and Use Studies Lynn Silipigni Connaway Ed ONeill Chandra Prabha Mark Bendig Anya Dyer

OCLC Researches library collections OCLC Researchers are exploring ways to mine data resources for information that is useful to library managers.

OCLC Researches library collections Data from WorldCat can provide useful support for collection decisions.

OCLC Researches library collections Current projects focus on producing information relevant to collection assessment and use.

Publication Dates of Unique Titles in an ARL Collection * *Data reported represent WorldCat holdings of a private ARL institution.

OCLC Researches library collections WorldCat records and netLibrary usage logs provide rich sources of research data.

Formats of Unique Titles in an ARL Collection * *Data reported represent WorldCat holdings of a private ARL institution.

OCLC Researches library collections WorldCat data may also be useful for: – collection assessment –attracting or accounting for outside funding –identifying roles of different library types

Subject Areas of Unique Titles in an ARL Collection * 10,131 3,545 *Data reported represent WorldCat holdings of a private ARL institution.

OCLC Researches library collections Researchers believe they may be able to use WorldCat holdings data to estimate the audience level of individual titles.

WorldCat Audience Distribution Mean Audience = Median Audience = 0.850

OCLC Researches library collections The estimated audience level of individual titles would be useful for collection development decisions, readers advisory, and reference services

OCLC Online Computer Library Center For more information Lynn Silipigni Connaway: Ed ONeill: On the Web: