Provides an overview of public administration and its similarities to library and information science, and notes research themes in public administration (innovation, organizational development and change, decision-making and evaluation, personnel, financial concerns, marketing, dissertations). Future of public administration research and its…

Analyzes subject trends from 1975-84 in nine influential journals in library and information science. Thirty-two subjects which constitute 89 percent of the subjects published are discussed under five categories according to their distribution characteristics: (1) boom topics; (2) declining topics; (3) roller coaster issues; (4) stable subjects;…

A discussion of library research support by diverse federal agencies, with and without matching funds from state, local, or foundation sources. Also lists information sources for library research. (LS)

Discusses funding for library research (1964-84), including previous findings; problems in analyses of funding; activities of major research funding agencies (Higher Education Act of 1965 Title II-B, National Science Foundation, National Library of Medicine, Council on Library Resources); and funding by professional organizations. Problems and…

Discussion of the importance of research in library education highlights library schools as producers of research; quality and amount of faculty output; factors affecting faculty research activity; student research output (particularly that of doctoral students); schools as research educators; and schools, research, and the profession. Forty-one…

Relevance of sociological theory and methodology to research in librarianship is discussed, noting findings from citation analysis developed from bibliographic database search (type of work and number of citations; most frequently cited authors, journals, and books; and rank order of sociological journals cited). Twenty-two references and journals…

Describes operations research as an important management tool that can aid library managers in effectively using available resources and as a set of analytical tools that can enable researchers to better understand library and information services. Early history, definition, models, applications to libraries, and impact are noted. Twenty-five…

This review of major applications of economic theory and research methods to libraries provides overviews of economics of information and of library services, research related to supply of library services, research into demand for library services, finances and fees, and the library labor market. A 78-item bibliography is provided. (EJS)

Review of trends during past 20 years in publishing of research and research results in librarianship in United States notes three characteristics of effective system of scholarly communication: access (bibliographies and indexes, research-alert columns, annual reviews); entry (journals, monographs, textbooks and readers, conference proceedings,…

Examines what differences libraries and librarians make, primarily from the perspective of geographical communities. States reasons why this is an essential research issue and describes contributions of current public library planning tools to the determination of impact. Examines the framework that is essential for the intellectual development of…

Reviews meaning and theory of library collections and structure and enumerates ways that data on collections can be organized to reveal underlying global structure (links and connections between collections, parts of collections, and users of collections). Definitions of terms applying to eight models described in text are appended. (53…

Discussion of history as a major research methodology in library and information science highlights the current status and nature of library history; rhetoric and history; historical significance of local history and larger perspectives; primary and secondary information sources; library biography; and publishing library history. Thirty-four…

This article presents a psychological perspective on research in librarianship and explores potential for application of psychological research principles and practices to behavioral research in libraries. Highlights include evolution of a theory of user behavior and the nature of psychological research and research designs and methodologies.…

Assesses the history and development of library services to Latinos. Discusses the history, role, and impact of key professional associations. Identifies, analyzes, and discusses the relevance of major studies, reports, and other publications, calling attention to the paucity that prevails in professional literature addressing this population.…

Offers definitions for four general categories of research--practical, bibliographical, scholarly, scientific--and discusses connections of research to librarianship, the introduction of scientific research methodology in librarianship, activities related to scientific research, users of research, faculty status, professional organizations and…