The Ability of a University Library to Provide Books Wanted by Researchers

Abstract

Library 'failures' can be at various levels. This paper is concerned with basic stock failure— the library's inability to supply items wanted ( but not necessarily demanded of the library) by readers. The problems of studying stock failures are reviewed, with reference to two attempts at the University of Bath to identify the references wanted by researchers, the action taken by them on these references, and the ability of the library to supply them.