The creative researchers may find that one of the more intriguing aspects in his involvement with research tools is to examine them in a way, or for a purpose, for which they were not originally intended. (MF)

During the period of February through May of 1974, a study was conducted which analyzed all interlibrary loan photocopy requests sent from this Bell Laboratories Library to the Research Information Services Department of the Rutgers University Library at New Brunswick, New Jersey. (Author)

Four hundred eighty-seven citations of the 1976 issues of the Journal of the American Society for Information Science and the Personnel and Guidance Journal were checked for accuracy: total error was 13.6 percent and 10.7 percent, respectively. Error categories included incorrect author name, article/book title, journal title; wrong entry; and…

In an experimental selective dissemination program, public library patrons were supplied with printed booklists based on individual subject preferences.

Lotka's law is found to be invalid for papers published in library science. (PF)

Libraries must do some research before trying to establish a community information center. Librarians should consider feasibility, identify the target population, inventory community resources, define information needs, and provide for continuing study while the service is in operation. (LS)

Procedures for developing quantitative measures of reference service are described. Through individual interviews, researchers compiled a list of 93 activities performed by the staff. Each activity was evaluated by the staff in four categories: importance, interest, complexity, confidence. (JAB)

Today's library users prefer a less formal relationship with the reference librarian. Library schools are responding to this trend by offering courses in communications strategy. Library researchers recommend sensitivity training for librarians. (JAB)

A study of the use of the OCLC interlibrary loan subsystem revealed that nearly two weeks elapse between the entry of a request into the subsystem and receipt of the item. Comparison with other studies shows little change since 1979. (Author/EM)

A review of research on use of the library by workers in the humanities. Includes tables of citations and humanities journals studied and a generalized profile of information seeking behavior of scientists, social scientists, and humanists. (LS)

A pilot study at the University of Arkansas proved the success of a manual system of selective dissemination of information for researchers. Forms, a summary of activities, and an evaluative questionnaire are included. (LS)

The study reported here was conducted to determine whether local decision makers have information needs that can be elicited by direct contact, whether their questions could be answered through the resources of a research library, and, if so, whether the public library could have served as well. (Author/JAB)

This study investigated the accuracy of these services: whether they excluded sources in which a journal was actually indexed; and whether the journals accurately reported which services indexed them. (Author/JAB)

Six decision-making steps of the reference process were isolated through development of a model reference query. Instructional modules for each of the steps are described. The program is suitable for library school students or library paraprofessionals. (JAB)

A survey of 34 of the largest public library systems, each serving at least 500,000 people, showed: (1) minority offer online database services; (2) cost is major prohibiting factor; (3) New York Times Information Bank is most popular database; (4) fee structures vary; and (5) business organizations are most frequent users. (JD)