At the three month stage the collection had clocked up an impressive 2,482 issues.  New titles were added as they became available and the collection is regularly checked for items which have had no issues in a fortnight.  These are removed and added to general lending stock. 

Using this fairly strict weeding technique it has been possible to keep the numbers to between 225 and 250.  A pattern of use has emerged and at any one time there are between 30-40 titles on shelf, which change almost daily.

Although the statistics themselves were impressive the most important test was customer reaction.  Circulation staff were asked to note any verbal comments made to them at the issue desks.  Examples include:

'What a great excuse not to do any housework - I have to return this within a week!'

'What a lovely book - I stayed up late to finish it.'

'Excellent idea - but one week is not enough - make it two.'

After the collection had been available for 12 weeks, customers were invited to pass on their comments in writing by displaying comments slips next to the books.  All comments were very positive and encouraging.  For example:

'Excellent idea - keep it up - thank you!'

'The first place I look.'

'Great idea but there should be more new titles.'

'An excellent idea - it enables people to read best sellers within a reasonable time and with a varied selection of authors, usually means there is something for everyone.'

Initially there were some minor grumbles from customers but these stopped and the non-renewable, non-requestable characteristics of the collection have been accepted.  Customers seem to appreciate the extra choice it gives them.  Staff anticipated that the extra availability of the most uptodate titles would have a detrimental effect upon the number of requests taken.  This has proved not to be the case, in fact the numbers of fiction requests have risen slightly since the Best Sellers collection was introduced.

The fiction enquiry desk is situated next to the Best Sellers shelves and it has been possible to observe and listen to informal comments.  Many customers go straight to the Best Sellers shelves when they come into the library.  Others will take a casual look on the way out.  Customers often encourage each other to try Best Sellers, the usual line being, 'Of course you'll finish it in a week, you won't be able to put it down!'  Short loan periods, however, do not suit everyone and some customers still like to browse the shelves and stick to the four-week loan titles.  Others take one or two Best Sellers (to be read first) and also some four week loan items.