Attribute Sampling: A Library Management Tool

Attribute sampling is a tool that librarians may use to estimate characteristics of their collection, such as the portion of boots needing repair, the accuracy of the circulation records, or the accuracy of cataloging activities. Because sampling always results in risk that the sample is not an accurate indicator of true conditions, one can establish the risk of an incorrect inference. This article describes the nature of attribute sampling and presents the process a librarian might use to mate a defensible inference