Patricia Layzell Ward, Editor, Library Link

The Library and Information Statistics Unit at Loughborough University has recently published a report on paperbacks in UK public libraries.1 The last survey in the UK had been carried out in the mid-1980�s, and the findings showed that paperback purchasing was taking place on a relatively small scale. Many authorities purchased few paperbacks, some provided between 20-30% of their stock in paperback, but this was mainly light fiction.

The situation has changed and the new survey indicates that, on average, 46% of books purchased by a sample of 22 authorities were paperbacks. Hardbacks were no longer an automatic choice. In purchasing light fiction, half preferred paperbacks and 41% had no preference. For classic fiction 47% had no preference; and for non-fiction over two-thirds had no preference. The majority of paperbacks were catalogued and reinforced before going on the shelves, whereas in the past many had been intended for a short-term life.

The investigators took a sample of 100 titles and checked their publishing history. A title may appear first in paperback, or only in paperback, or in paper and hardback at the same time. This happened with 36% of general fiction titles, 43% of light fiction and 27% of biographies. In terms of the traditional sequence of hardback followed by paperback this occurred with 60% of the general fiction, 42% of light fiction and 35% of biographies, leaving the library to make a decision as to whether to purchase the hardback, or wait and see whether a paperback appears. Very few titles appear in hardback only.

One interesting point emerging was the price difference between hardback and paperback editions. There was a range of price differences, but on average, the paperback was less than half the price of the hardback. Durability is a factor in the purchase of stock. In general it was concluded that hardbacks in sleeves and paperbacks in plastic jackets stood up to wear and tear better than laminated books, but a contradiction was found in that generally the respondents to the survey rated the laminated paperbacks as being more durable than those in sleeves. The investigators combined the information on durability with cost data to produce measures of cost-effectiveness, and concluded that the paperback was the most cost-effective option.

User preference was sought. There was a greater preference, 47%, for fiction in paperbacks compared with only 33% preferring non-fiction in paperbacks. But overall there was a greater preference for paperbacks than in previous surveys. One consistent correlation was between �youth� and �preference for paperbacks�.

There is a great deal more interesting detail in the report which also sets out key points that could be incorporated on policy documents concerning the acquisition of paperbacks in public libraries.

Now an interesting question is whether these findings would be similar to those produced by a survey in other parts of the world? Has there been an increase in the purchasing of paperbacks? Is it for reasons of cost-effectiveness, or for user preference?

1 Reuben, Joan and Spiller, David, Paperbacks in Public Libraries, LISU Occasional paper no.22. Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leics. LE11 3TU. 64pp. ISBN 1 901786 16 1. �17.50 post paid in the UK. Overseas postage � Europe �1 � Rest of the world �2

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