Academic
A 1977 survey of academic depository libraries (sample size: 200; responding: 160 or 80%) concerning the impact of commercially produced microforms showed that the top 3 reasons given by the 73 respondents who reported purchasing commercially produced government documents for selecting a particular publisher were (multiple responses allowed): cost (64 or 88%); format, i.e., fiche, card, or film (57 or 78%); and reputation of company (43 or 59%). (Source)
A 1977-78 study at Duke University involving acquisition of state government documents (population: "approximately 2,000 items” ordered during an 18-month period; sample size: 591 items) showed that overall 88.7% of the state government document requests did not require payment. However, between April 1977 and April 1978 the average number of responses to requests for state government documents. that required payment rose from “about 5%” to “about 12%.” (Source)
Ibid. . . . showed that 96.8% of the material ordered from LC cards was gratis; 92.2% of the material from the LC’s Monthly Checklist was gratis; 89.4% of the material ordered from “other” sources was gratis; 88.7% of the material ordered from state checklists was gratis; and 73.3% of the material ordered from PAIS was gratis. (Source)
