Subject Use by Location
The Subject Use by Location tool describes title and item circulation within selected call number range(s) across locations and makes recommendations to expand or weed selected range(s) by location, based on library-determined performance expectations.
Subject Categories
Decision Center determines subject categories based on data from your library's statistical categories (SCAT) table. This table groups call numbers in up to 9,999 different categories. Each category consists of one or more range(s) of call numbers (for example, 200 - 299 or PS1100 - PS3500). Note that call numbers can be numeric (Dewey) or alphanumeric (Library of Congress).
Each library creates its own SCAT table so that tools provide the categories the library wants. The category names that appear in Decision Center reflect the SCAT table's call number range description field, as entered by the library.
The Subject Use by Location tool includes the following components:
Initial Filters
You can set the following filter to configure this tool:
Call Number Range
The Call Number Range filter options use the call number ranges defined in your library system's statistical categories (SCAT) tables. The data is limited to the call number ranges you select. You can select any number of available ranges, but you must select at least one to use this tool. The default is All Call Number Ranges.
Data Columns
The following data columns appear in the results:
#
The results row number.
Branch
A specific library branch.
Branches
To determine the branch, Decision Center first identifies the location code (shelf code) in the item record. The system then looks up the location code in the Locations Served file and uses the associated branch location code. The descriptive name associated with the branch location code comes from the Branches file. If the system cannot find the location code or the branch name in the Locations Served file, Decision Center displays the location code that appeared in the item record.
Number of Titles
The number of titles within the subject category.
Applies to the row's branch as owning location.
Number of Items
The number of items for all titles within the subject category.
Applies to the row's branch as owning location.
Total Circs Last 365 Days
The total number of circulations (checkouts and renewals) in the last 365 days.
Applies to the row's branch as transaction location.
% Titles Circ'd Last 365 Days
The percentage of titles that circulated within the last 365 days. Circulations include checkouts and renewals.
Applies to the row's branch as transaction location.
Turnover
The turnover ratio is the quotient of circulated items (circ count) divided by the number of corresponding circable items in the system during the relevant time period. Circulation comprises checkouts and renewals.
Recommendation
Weed or expand, based upon calculations.
Remedy Filters
You can apply the following filters to modify the results:
Weed If % Use Less Than
Limits the results to categories for which the % Titles Circ'd Last 365 Days value is less than the specified percentage.
Expand If % Use Greater Than
Limits the results to categories for which the % Titles Circ'd Last 365 Days value is greater than the specified percentage.
Minimum Number of Titles
Limits the results to categories containing at least the specified number of titles.
