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Item Selection Rate Averages By Size and Type of Library, March 2004

The chart below, showing item selection rate averages by size and type of library, includes information from responses to the 2003 Biennial Survey. To facilitate comparisons of library item selection rates over the years, the chart uses the same size categories as in the past, rather than the new size categories established in 2001: Small = < 250,000; Medium = 250,000 - 1,000,000; Large = > 1,000,000.

Figures under the pound sign (#) represent the number of libraries of the designated size and type responding to the 2003 Biennial Survey. Figures under the percentage sign (%) denote the average percentage of items that are actually selected by the libraries. Size designations are based on the number of cataloged and uncataloged materials in the library system. All formats and all collections, depository and non-depository, under the purview of the depository's library director are included. Data for library size and item selection percentage were derived from Questions 2 and 3 respectively of the 2003 Biennial Survey of Depository Libraries, from 1277 responding depository libraries.