Two research questions guided this study: (1) Is there a gap in customer service quality perception between librarians (service providers) and patrons (service beneficiaries)?; and (2) How do patrons perceive the relational service qualities of librarians who staff the reference desk? Quantitative results based on a Likert scale survey showed no…

This study explores the idea of creating a knowledge base from shared online accounts to use in training librarians who perform distance reference services. Through a survey, follow-up interviews and a case study, the investigators explored current and potential use of shared online accounts as training tools. This study revealed that the…

After one year of providing virtual reference service through an instant messaging (IM) service, Binghamton University (BU) Libraries, under the purview of its Digital Reference Committee (DRC), undertook a study of collected session transcripts. The goals of this work were to determine who was using the IM service and why; if staffing for the…

For many library patrons, the reference desk is the logical place to begin research on a topic. The purpose of this study is to determine if patrons, given a choice of either a male or a female librarian to approach, have a gender bias when seeking information at the reference desk. A total of 100 library users were unobtrusively observed in the…

Describes a survey that was conducted at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville library to count and categorize the types of questions coming into the reference department from telephone calls. Informational and directional calls are examined, implications for staffing are considered, and queuing theory is applied. (seven references) (LRW)

Describes an experiment that examined the effect of nonverbal communication conveyed by touch, forward lean, and smile combined with the effect of gender on patrons perceptions of the library, librarians, and themselves. Possible reasons for the lack of correlation among these factors are discussed and the questionnaire used is appended. (35…

A descriptive study was conducted employing questionnaires distributed to users and staff members. The adequacy of informational and instructional staff performances, their attitude toward patrons, and the relative proportions of reference and nonreference questions were explored. It was recommended to the staff that methods of performance…

This report describes the use of videotaped lectures in the undergraduate library instruction program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Library, outlines the structure of the program, and reviews the process of producing library-specific videotapes. The results of an informal survey to compare the videotape method of presentation with a…

This description of the implementation of online search services in a small college library focuses on the low-cost, time-conscious methods adopted for searching, publicity, the policy for determining search fees, and evaluation. Sample materials provided include a poster, online statistics, a questionnaire, and a printout. (RBF)

This report presents the results of a study of the Extended Campus Library Services program at Western Kentucky University (WKU), which was conducted by a committee appointed by the Director of University Libraries. A description of the program's goals and objectives is followed by a review of the extended campus programs in relation to similar…

One of a set of programmed texts specifically designed for college upperclassmen doing research for term papers, this text focuses on business related topics, and the examples have been selected with advanced research for academic disciplines in mind. The text emphasizes making critical and evaluative judgments about the materials used and is…

One of a set of programmed texts specifically designed for college upperclassmen doing research for term papers, this text focuses on humanities related topics, and the examples have been selected with advanced research for academic disciplines in mind. The text emphasizes making critical and evaluative judgments about the materials used and is…

One of a set of programmed texts specifically designed for college upperclassmen doing research for term papers, this text focuses on psychology related topics, and the examples have been selected with advanced research for academic disciplines in mind. The text emphasizes making critical and evaluative judgments about the materials used and is…

In order to ascertain what data elements should commonly be considered in the development of a meaningful procedure for recording and analyzing library reference transaction data for planning purposes, a comparison was made between the development, use, and results of surveys designed and tested at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the…

Describes bibliographic instruction service instituted at University of Ottawa library known as term-paper counseling--an attempt to match on one-to-one basis a student's immediate research need with service offered during limited time period. Planning, publicity, staffing, and reactions to the project are noted. Application, session, and…