Unit costs of interlibrary loans and photocopies at a regional medical library. Preliminary report.

UNIT COSTS OF PROVIDING INTERLIBRARY LOANS AND PHOTOCOPIES WERE DETERMINED BY A METHOD NOT PREVIOUSLY USED FOR LIBRARY COST STUDIES: random time sampling with self-observation. The working time of all appropriate personnel was sampled using Random Alarm Mechanisms and a structured checklist of tasks. The total lender's unit cost per request received, including direct labor, materials, fringe benefits, and overhead, was $1.526 for originals mailed postpaid by lender, and $1.534 for photocopies mailed. Corresponding unit costs per request filled were: originals, $1.932, and photocopies, $1.763.