October 2024

Quick Facts

• The library tracks the ratio of holds to copies
• Acquisitions and Selections staff receive weekly reports that show titles where the holds to copies ratio is over a certain number, and buy more copies if possible.

Application

A Purchase Alert report is reviewed weekly by Acquisitions staff. The report lists titles that have too many holds per copy (aka exceeds the holds ratio). Staff use this as a guideline to buy additional copies if they are available. 

The holds ratios are:

• 6:1 for physical materials (non-WSYL)
• 4:1 for physical WSYL materials
• 5:1 for digital youth materials
• 8:1 for digital adult ebooks
• 9:1 for digital adult audiobooks

When we initially add digital titles to the collection we only purchase one copy of each title. We then purchase additional copies to meet demand. This is due to the high cost of digital items and the nearly immediate ability to add more copies in these formats. For pre-order titles, the E-Content Librarian will buy enough copies to meet the holds ratio the week before the book’s release date. Additional digital copies are also purchased on a weekly basis.