Academic
A 1974 comparison of an semiautomated (Mohawk punched card system) vs. manual circulation system at Colorado State University showed thatthe unit costs of the manual system were $0,365 [per circulation transaction] vs. $0,474 [per circulation transaction] for the automated system, an increase of 29.9%. (Source)
A comparison of periodical costs—1975 cost data including subscription costs (actual), ordering (estimated), receiving (estimated), processing (estimated), accounting and shelving costs (estimated), binding preparation and binding costs (estimated)—and use rates (based on use during the period 1972-75) in an academic library (unspecified) showed thatfor the 25 most requested journals out of 528 political science journals (use determined by an earlier study, 421) the cost for each use of the periodical ranged from $.17 to $4.98 with a median of $.53 per use. (Source)
Ibid…. showed thatthe cost per individual user (many users made multiple requests, sec above) of the 25 most requested jourals out of 528 political science journals (use determined by an earlier study, 421) ranged from $.78 to $4.64 per user with a median of $2.27 per user. (Source)
Public
A study reported in 1979 at the Oklahoma City/County Metropolitan Library System showed thatfor 18,996 adult hardback books and 19,126 adult paperback books purchased in FY 1976-77 the cost ratio based on purchase price alone of hardback to paperback was 4.1 to 1, while the cost per circulation (again based on purchase price only) of hardback to paperback was 4.2 to 1. For slightly more materials in FY 1977-78 the cost ratio of hardbound to paperback was 3.7 to 1, and the cost per circulation was 3.89 to 1. (Source)
Ibid…. showed thatfor 5,624 juvenile hardback books and 6,031 paperback books purchased in FY 1976-77 the cost ratio based on purchase price alone of hardback to paperback was 5.9 to 1, while the cost per circulation (again based on purchase price only) of hardback to paperback was 2.7 to 1. For approximately the same number of materials purchased in FY 1977-78 the cost ratio of hardbound to paperback was 4.8 to 1, and the cost per circulation was 2.6 to 1. (Source)
