Summarizes the literature on users studies from the perspective that variation in type of search may be considered central to providing a rational explanation and justification of the variations in resource allocation in different types of libraries. (CWM)

Examines the role of the Internet in supporting scholarly communication via electronic journals. Topics include scholarly electronic communication; a typology of electronic journals; models of electronic documents and scholarly communication forums; publication speed; costs; pricing; access and searching; citations; interactivity; archiving and…

Describes research that was conducted to determine the search state patterns through which users retrieve information in hypertext systems. Use of the Markov model to describe users' search behavior is discussed, and search patterns of different user groups were studied by comparing transition probability matrices. (Contains 25 references.) (LRW)

Discusses issues that managers of academic library electronic reference services are facing. Topics discussed include the quantity of mediated searches; organizational changes, i.e., who electronic services staff report to; management by committee; administrative options; changing job responsibilities of searchers and other staff members, both…

Describes the conceptual differences between information, instruction, and learning and relates them to hypermedia-based information systems. Locus of control is discussed; information searches in libraries are considered; and issues related to learning with hypermedia-based information systems are explained, including navigational issues,…

Conducted over the past 15 years by the College of Education at Wayne State University (WSU), the studies of several databases that are described in this paper were designed for the specific purpose of providing factual information related to the problems of education in the public schools and in higher education. As a matter of precept the study…

This survey of the literature reveals user and professional opinions of changes in subject access features available for online public access catalogs. Highlights include expanded access to fields already incorporated into traditional MARC record, access to context of the record, and design of the user interface. Twenty-four references are cited.…

This examination of misunderstandings between librarians and teaching faculty over concepts of library use and research concludes that library skills and research skills are essentially different things that can be learned in isolation from each other. Implications of these findings for bibliographic instruction and library policies are discussed.…

Discusses formulation of value function based on research from modelling, value assessment, human information seeking behavior, and human decision making. The proposed function is incorporated into computer-based fiction retrieval system and evaluated based on ability of individual's value function to discriminate among novels selected, rejected,…

Presents literature that describes the online negotiation process in general terms and summarizes views of authors who have dealt with the interview in the reference process. Specific aspects of the online negotiation interview and the measurement of user satisfaction are highlighted. Ninety-one references are cited. (EJS)

Reviews research findings that indicate students learn more and produce better research products following planned, integrated information skills instruction by the teacher and teacher-librarian together. Topics include the search process, search strategies, concept mapping, integrated resource-based instruction, and the need for formal planning.…

Presents an overview of the National Library of Medicine's 1988 field test and evaluation project on the use of MEDLINE products on CD-ROM. Results are summarized in the areas of user characteristics, search characteristics, user satisfaction, product features and costs, and impact on online searching. (10 references) (LRW)

Addresses problems with automated bibliographic and full-text storage of scientific articles. The role of the scientific article is described, the structure is explained, current indexing and information retrieval techniques are criticized, new possibilities using a rhetoric syntax or argumentational syntax are explored, and the use of hypertext…

This review of the literature on full-text databases provides information on search strategy, performance measurement, and the benefits and limitations of full text compared to bibliographic database searching. Various use studies and uses of full-text databases are also listed. (21 references) (LAE)

Describes a study of undergraduates at Aston University (United Kingdom) that investigated whether maps were an appropriate navigational aid for searching in a hypertext environment. Task performance, system use, previous computer experience, perceptions of the system, and cognitive map data are examined; and implications for hypertext system…