The Reserve Department Revisited

Abstract

Faculty and student use of print materials in the Capital University Library's Reserve Department is examined. Twenty-nine percent of the teaching faculty use the department's services for classroom instruction. Seven of twenty-four departments account for both the heaviest faculty and student use. However, only half of the 1994 examined items circulated once. Photocopies of articles and other short pieces received more use than monographs. Factors contributing to heavy use in a small number of departments include individual instructors' class design and use of reserve materials in courses that meet both departmental and university requirements.