The office of institutional research at West Virginia University, an intergral part of the university's office of planning, annually produces a fact book called "Statistical Profiles of West Virginia University." The book is used as a source of information for planning, and contains information on six topics: the university's mission; programs; faculty and staff; sources of financial support; and facilities. A national study was undertaken to learn more about fact book production and use, or lack of them, in other institutions. Specifically, the intent was to investigate reasons for not producing such a fact book, and also to examine costs, manpower needs, distribution, uses of the information, production problems, and the content of the publications that are produced. The results of this survey are presented in detail. (MSE)