Report From Fayetteville: “University of Arkansas Library to Put Bulk of Books Into Storage”

From Arkansas Online:

Renovations to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville main campus library will result in up to three-quarters of books and other printed materials moving to a new off-campus storage facility.
[Clip]
About 1.2 million books and other bound printed materials sit on the shelves of the four-level, approximately 227,660-square-foot Mullins Library, said Kathleen Lehman, head of user services for UA libraries. She said the 1.2 million estimate leaves out some categories of printed materials, including textbooks kept on reserve, a collection of books for children, and oversized volumes.
An estimated 300,000 to 350,000 books and bound serials will remain after items are transferred into storage, said Joel Thornton, head of instruction and liaison services for UA libraries.
[Clip]
The number of items checked out at UA — including some materials that are not books, such as DVDs — decreased by about 49 percent in academic year 2016-17 compared with four years earlier. In 2016-17, initial circulations, not including renewals, totaled 31,320 across all UA libraries, down from 60,964 in 2012-13.
[Clip]
What we’re seeing in our research libraries is an increased pressure on our space and decreased demand for immediate access to our printed books,” Anderson said.
At large research libraries in North America, “circulation is going down pretty dramatically and has for at least 15 years,” Anderson said.

Read the Complete Article (About 1070 Words)
See Also: Future Library Storage Facility FAQs (via U. of Arkansas Libraries)
See Also: University of Arkansas Libraries: Construction of a New High-Density Storage Facility is Underway (September 21, 2017)
See Also: On the University of Arkansas Libraries Plan to Build $11.4 Million High-Density Storage Facility (June 13, 2016)

Filed under: Academic Libraries, Libraries, News