Describes responses of 19 Louisiana academic libraries to questionnaire designed to determine scope and conduct of academic online searching search services. Telecommunications networks, terminals, patrons, library search procedures, methods of charging fees, special features, selective dissemination of information, computer searching by…

A survey of heads of academic library reference services gathered information on reference collection development. Findings included: (1) selection and weeding frequently are not guided by written policies; (2) empirical studies of use are almost nonexistent; and (3) online availability of sources is an important factor in selection. (20…

A survey of 113 Texas libraries examined characteristics of reference positions to determine whether there were important similarities and differences between public and academic libraries in the areas of professional qualifications for employment; job skills and responsibilities; work scheduling; benefits; and departmental characteristics. The…

As background for defining public library adult services in the 1980s the perceived role of the public library in the United States since its inception is summarized and changing definitions are analyzed. Data collection and analysis plans for the Adult Services in the Eighties Project are described. (EM)

This discussion of the failure to include many book reviews by indexes in selected subject fields and by several general indexes highlights the technique used to check review materials in selected magazines to see what was actually indexed, the policies of specific indexes, and the practical consequences for librarians. (EM)

This survey of academic public service librarians shows a decline in negative stereotypical perceptions of older adults from earlier studies. However, this may not necessarily indicate a desire to offer services to the elderly, and the factor of self-selection may be present with regard to librarians' involvement with such services. (Author/EM)

Report on a survey of 462 public librarians highlights existing bibliographic practices in managing nonbook media in library collections; attitudes about nonbook media as information sources (cost, informational value, storage and use); and attitudes about bibliographic access to nonbook media (integrated catalogs, classification schemes). Eleven…

A survey of public and academic libraries conducted to obtain information on length of reference desk shifts and proportion of the reference librarian's time spent at the desk found the two-hour weekday shift to be the most common, and that librarians typically work 7 to 21 hours per week at the desk. (EM)

Provides a definition of reference books based on their organizational structure and describes an empirical study which was conducted in three libraries to identify types of book organization and determine their frequency in reference departments and stack collections. The data are analyzed and shown to support the definition. (EM)

Academic librarians in Illinois were surveyed to determine their attitudes toward and recordkeeping practices for online searches. Findings indicate that confidentiality is considered to be as important for online searches as for circulation records, but that recordkeeping practices and attitudes toward subject and client disclosure do not assume…

Results of survey measuring university faculty attitudes toward bibliographic instruction indicated that: frequency of respondent's library use related positively to decision to offer bibliographic instruction and its delivery by librarians; part-time faculty were less aware of library services than full-time faculty; 29 percent of faculty…

Users of a search/document delivery service in a large engineering firm were surveyed to determine the amount and relevancy of information received, time saved by using the service, dollar value of information received, number of employees using or seeing the information, and any improvement in the firm's competitive position. (EM)

Reports the results of a survey of college students which examined their views on the value of online searching and the relevance of retrieved citations. Survey items, including subject searched, method of instructions, searching experience, database selected, and perceived relevance of citations, were cross-tabulated and examined for…

Proposes and investigates feasibility of using three new variables in addition to simple activity counts in measuring reference services: (1) user questioning regardless of where activity occurs; (2) treating individual user and question as unit of analysis; and (3) examination of questioning in context of other library use. (11 references) (EJS)

A study of the collection of college catalogs at a medium-sized university library found that they are used by many types of clients in addition to undergraduates; users need a current, comprehensive collection and are not bothered by a lack of shelf order; use is enough to justify the collection. (Author/EM)