ABSTRACT
In order to estimate the value of patrons’ time spent waiting for delivery, a survey and cover letter was distributed to all interlibrary loan patrons who requested articles in the sciences or mathematics from September 1, 1994, through December 31, 1994, at the University Libraries at the State University of New York at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook. The study focused on journal titles in mathematics and the sciences, which are more likely to have higher subscription rates and greater cost savings to the library if access via a subscription is replaced by access via interlibrary loan. To cover the full range of science and mathematics titles, the survey was administered to every patron who received an article requested in journals with call letters starting with Q, R, S, T and W.
