Some operational costs of the gift and exchange section of the British Library Lending Division

Abstract

A diary survey was conducted in May 1978 to find the unit costs of various activities in the Gift and Exchange Section at the British Library Lending Division. An analysis of the work of the section was made and costings of each activity found. The processing cost for British material sent to the Lending Division was 42p per book and 9p per periodical piece, and for material held by and despatched from other libraries 36.2p per book and 4.6p per periodical piece. If the take‐up rate for the two types of material is considered, the overall cost per item placed was 57p per book and 19.8p per periodical piece. Where the literature itself was not handled by the Division, the costs were 5p less per book and 11p less per periodical piece.