The hypothesis that there exists a strong linear relation between reference service and library use was strongly supported by data from Northern Illinois University Library. Hourly counts of people using the reference room, total number of direction and location questions asked, and total number of reference questions asked were randomly sampled.…

A brief questionnaire was sent to a random selection of 70 librarians in the State University of New York Librarians' Association Directory to determine the frequency of their use of humor at the reference desk and in the library instruction classroom, their perceptions of classroom humor, and their reasons for using humor in these situations.…

In 1973, the Technological Institute Library, along with the other science libraries of Northwestern University, began a study of reference use. For each reference request received in the libraries, the date, time, duration, mode, class of question, and user type were noted. These statistics were tabulated and analyzed by computer. It was…

This survey of online search service centers in Canada was conducted to provide data on these centers and, more specifically, on the characteristics of the human search intermediary; and to provide an accurate overall picture of online searching in Canada. The survey questionnaires were mailed to approximately 765 Canadian customers of seven…

Librarians store, protect, and provide the knowledge our modern society needs, but it is frequently difficult to justify the services a reference librarian provides. The work load of a reference librarian varies greatly with periods of frantic activity separated by much longer inactive periods. The role is principally passive, waiting for library…

The use of online searching by reference librarians to provide actual answers and not just bibliographies or current awareness printouts has the potential to save time and money for the reference department. The quick reference service can actually promote rather than compete with the library's online search service for in depth subject searching.…

An experimental program placed computer terminals in four San Francisco Bay Area public libraries to be used to provide on-line computer search services to library patrons. The first few months of operation of the experiment showed that there was a significant impact on the participating libraries, on the library patrons, and on the community and…

Uses the example of bibliographic retrieval services to explore the potential impacts of historic usage trends, technological advances, actions/policies intended to enhance or control evolving services, and other social, economic, and political developments on areas of concern to users of online systems. Eight figures and 23 sources are included.…

Based on a review of the literature, this discussion addresses such key aspects of the librarian's changing role in the online search process as the reference interview, online search evaluation, user training, and information service management. Future trends are noted, and 43 references are listed. (EJS)

Lockheed has undertaken Project DIALIB to determine whether online retrieval services could be useful to the general public, and if the public library could serve as the linking agent for these services. As part of the study, DIALOG, Lockheed's online reference retrieval system, has been made available to the public through four public libraries…

Reports results of study of a group of end users (patent attorneys) doing their own online searching at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Highlights include DIALOG databases used by the attorneys, locations and searching modes, characteristics of patent attorney searchers, and problem areas. Questionnaire is appended. (5 references) (EJS)

Analyzes information problem solving (IPS) processes of 62 users of the AskERIC Q&A Service, a free Internet-based digital reference service in the domain of education. Identifies patterns of associations between multiple levels of user goals and other situational factors including goal-generating factors, types of information sought, search…

This study conducted at Texas A&M University compares two types of training approaches using ERIC SilverPlatter (ERIC SP). Education students received either: (1) a one hour training session on basic search commands and strategies, or (2) a four page instructional handout that described basic search commands, Boolean logic, and special…

Undertaken for a doctoral dissertation, this research project on reference services tested a model of major variables that influence academic library reference service outcomes. The study focused on reference librarians who serve in boundary spanning roles, i.e., positions where interchange with the organization's external environment is central…

In the fall of 1972, the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Library began an internal management survey of its public service reference department (excluding circulation and special collections) with the objectives of streamlining operations and establishing more service points for users. Initial data was called from an earlier user survey.…