Inventory Procedures for the Libraries of California State University, Northridge, and a Possible California State University System Guide [microform] / Norma S. Creaghe and Others

This proposal suggests library inventory procedures to meet the need for improved security in the California State University libraries and to preserve the integrity of the collections at the 19 campuses. There is a need for a reliable method of inventory for the collection as a whole, in order to determine significant changes in the collection such as changes in the number of books unaccounted for. Since a complete inventory on a regular basis would be too costly, sampling is proposed as the best method of assessing the amount of book loss, and a complete inventory would be mandated only when lost items exceeded a benchmark figure. This proposal recommends that a systematic sample of a specified number of each Library of Congress letter classification be taken every 3 years. If sample results revealed an annual loss rate of more than 1% and the loss rate remained the same after a 1 year waiting period followed by a second sample, a full inventory would be indicated. This proposal includes a detailed formula for systematic sampling, and statistical tables to aid in the implementation of the sampling formula. (Author/DMC)