A survey of the reference departments of public libraries in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah was conducted to determine whether CD-ROM products are being used in routine reference work. Previous literature on CD-ROM had primarily been concerned with the response to and acceptance of the technology by patrons. A stratified sample of public…

This study profiles bookmobile libraries operating within the state of Ohio. Details of the services offered to the public by these libraries were gathered through a questionnaire soliciting information about individual programs. The questionnaire was completed by 35 librarians in Ohio--in each case, the librarian most responsible for the…

This report contains annex materials from a study conducted for the New Jersey State Library (NJSL) with two major objectives: (1) to determine how much it costs two state contract libraries--the Central Library of the Newark Public Library and the Bureau of Law and Reference of the New Jersey State Library--to provide supplemental question…

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…

Based on a survey of 160 Texas college and university libraries, this study reports on their access to and usage of 3 online information retrieval systems: Bibliographic Retrieval Services (BRS), Lockheed's DIALOG Information Services, and System Development Corporation's ORBIT Information Retrieval System. The study finds that 24 percent of all…

Data from 164 questionnaires completed by users of Toronto's Municipal Reference Library over a 2-day period in April 1980 were used to construct a profile of user characteristics. The questionnaire addressed such factors as the user's reason for coming to the library, the types of materials consulted, staff assistance, user knowledge of the…

A 2-phase study evaluated the existing reference referral network in California, and developed and evaluated two alternative designs, one organization-based and the other formula-based. The evaluation phase consisted of the following tasks: (1) a survey of all public libraries and cooperative systems of the state regarding their priorities for and…

Presents preliminary results of Clearwater Public Library's study of the usefulness of "Output Measures for Public Libraries" as an indicator of reference performance, and the impact of collection development choices on reference output measures. Data on turnover rate, in-library use, reference fill rate, and reference transactions per…

To develop method for determining adequacy of library reference desk staffing, data on reference transactions, person hours, percent of professional hours, and turnstile count for 1979 were obtained from 71 academic libraries and correlated with library performance measures. Formulas for predicting number of reference transactions and 17…

Summarizes a study conducted on a group of bibliographic instruction librarians from academic libraries in Pennsylvania to determine their backgrounds, their perceptions regarding the adequacy of their training for bibliographic instruction, and their needs for additional training. Data are summarized in 12 tables and a 9-item reference list is…

Lack of library programs for foreign students is substantiated by a questionnaire sent to academic libraries. Specialized library handouts in foreign languages, purchase of materials about students' home countries, outreach by liaison librarian, library instruction, and staff development are suggested as means of providing service. Twenty-two…

Discusses the findings and implications of a California Library Association survey in 1977 which investigated the availability of online search services, factors affecting the decision to charge, and the bases of fee schedules at 28 California libraries. Previous research is mentioned. Eight tables and 14 references are included. (RBF)

Discusses integration of the government publications reference collection into the central reference collection at the University of Arizona library. Topics include the integration process, training methods, the training program effectiveness survey, perceptions of competence in reference provision, and an assessment of government documents…

Describes a survey of midsized academic libraries that measured the departmental relationship between librarians who provide reference services and librarians who provide instructional services. Discusses satisfaction levels with various organizational arrangements as well as pros and cons of integrated or separate reference and instruction…

This preliminary study was designed to benchmark patron perceptions of reference desk services at academic health science libraries, using a standard questionnaire. Responses were compared to determine the library that provided the highest-quality service overall and along five service dimensions. All libraries were rated very favorably, but none…