Many thanks to those who responded to my query regarding how to
approximate the number of books in a library collection. Some of you
asked for a hit, so here it is:
From Larry Wieland:
Patsy
The rule of thumb that I saw concerned adult books. It stated that you
should figure about 21 books per 3 foot shelf. However, I found a more
accurate way to estimate the size of an existing collection was to pick
an "average " shelf in the collection and count every book on it. Then
multiply by the number of shelves in the library.
I've just done some research on this kind of thing for a renovation. I
don't know about how to determine how many books you have, but the standard
from the Kentucky Facilities Handbook for new/renovated libraries says:
* 10 standard books per foot of shelving, 20 picture books per foot.
* Reference Books-18 per 3 ft. shelf
Hope that helps.
Gayle E. Gray
Library Media Specialist
Frankfort High School
There probably is a formula, but I never found it. When I was opening
my new library I came up with my own "formula" and it worked well. I
started with 2 sections of shelving in my old library. A section was 5
shelves high. My shelves were overcrowded - so I removed a number of
books from each shelf so that each shelf was a little less than half
full. I then counted the books in each of the 2 sections and wrote it
down. I did this for the fiction, non-fiction and reference sections
and recorded them seperately. I then added up teh number of books in
each 2 section segment (5 shelves per section)and divided by 10 to get
an average number of books per shelf for each type of book - fiction,
nonfiction, and ref. This helped me plan how much shelving to purchase.
It worked out quite well.
Jacquie
"The Librarian, whose job is to heal ignorance, to keep life safe for
poetry and to put knowledge smack dab in the middle of the American
way."
>From The Philadelphia Inquirer, 9-20-03
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jacquie Henry, MLS
Ruben A. Cirillo High School (GHS)
Gananda Central School District
3195 Wiedrick Road
P.O. Box 609
As part of our annual state report, we have to count all our books in
each section including such #'s as 320s, 330s, etc. A certain % in
certain time sensitive areas need to be 12 or less years old. We also
need to have a certain total number for the amount enrolled at our
school. Consequently, I count all of our books (over 20,000) every June.
I stick a "post-it" on the shelf at every 100th book with the numer of
that book. At various points, fiction, paperback, nonfiction,
reference, biography, short story, I begin counting again (for the
purpose of the report) but I have an overall tally sheet going.
Counting your books is not the end of the world, just an end of the year
project.
Happy counting.
Barb
Barb Uhlman
Library Media Specialist
Parkway South Middle School
760 Woods Mill Road
Manchester, MO 63011
314.415.7232 phone
314.415.7234 fax
buhlman@pkwy.k12.mo.us
Macedon, NY 14502
jhenry@gananda.org
Frankfort, KY 40601
LM NET Is such a wonderful resource! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.
Patsy Wilber
Media Specialist/Consultant
Drewsey School District #13
Drewsey, OR
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