Beginning with the incorporation of the Library in 1892, booklists were submitted by the Librarian to the Trustee Committee on Books for approval. Upon the retirement of George B. Utley, the Committee on Books approval for routine purchases became more of a formality. During Pargellis' administration, 1942-1962, booklists were termed "List of Books Added to the Library." Beginning in 1962, L. W. Towner submitted a "Monthly Acquisitions Report" which continued to list all purchases. After October 1967, this lengthy format was abandoned for a report that included statistics and an itemization of interesting acquisitions only.

Booklists include author, title, publication data, and price. Some lists include source, bibliographer's name, and date ordered. Prior to 1943, lists were topical and numbered, and each volume contained a table of contents. In 1943 lists for all acquisitions, purchases and gifts, general and special collections, were merged into a bi monthly (later monthly) record arranged according to fund, collection, and subject. These later lists also include a narrative summary of acquisitions.

Earlier Booklists, 1892-1899 and 1907-1910, are located in the records of the Trustee Committee on Books, Record Group 02/02/02.