DATA OBTAINED FROM VISITS TO ALL TYPES OF LIBRARIES, INTERVIEWS WITH ABOUT 80 PEOPLE, AND STATISTICAL DATA FURNISHED BY THE COLORADO STATE LIBRARY FROM THE BASIS FOR THIS SURVEY OF LIBRARY RESOURCES IN COLORADO. LIBRARY SERVICES ARE FOUND TO BE INADEQUATE AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE STATE LIBRARY ASSUME LEADERSHIP FOR STATE PROGRAMS, THAT THE…

Librarians are provided with three samples of Reference Question Forms," and useful advice on how to compile library statistics on reference questions. (MF)

Presents a method for determining the number of days on which questions must be counted in order to achieve a given precision and confidence in reference statistics. (Author/PF)

Maryland's third unobtrusive reference/information survey, which was conducted by an independent consulting firm, found that good reference service is a result of variables within each librarian's control. Training programs that were developed after previous surveys appear to have increased librarians' effectiveness. Findings of the survey are…

The purpose of this study is to explore the public library program of publicizing and interpreting the professional collections and services available for use by professional staffs of welfare agencies and to relate such programs of interpretation to levels of use by the agencies' staffs. Four libraries in cities of over 300,000 population were…

The results of a survey on the nature and functions of information desks in large academic and public libraries are examined with respect to the functions, staffing patterns, and times of service. The survey expands and updates Kleiner's 1967 study. (JB)

Penang, Malaysia is undergoing rapid industrialization to stimulate its economy. A survey was conducted to determine what technical, scientific, and commercial information sources were available. Areas covered in the survey were library facilities, journals, commercial reference works and audio-visual materials. (DH)

Reference librarians must, if they hope to survive, retool in preparation for becoming the interface between the patron and computer-based information systems. This involves sharpening the interview technique and understanding where to plug into the information flow process. (4 references) (Author)

Survey of 56 public reference librarians from New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania reveals that they perceive reference service as comprising question answering (34 percent); locating information (30 percent); service (17 percent); providing materials (7 percent); aiding readers in library use (4 percent); telephone referral (2 percent); 100 percent…

Reports on a survey of 47 academic library online facilities. Data gathered on finances, number of searches conducted, patrons served, sytems accessed, equipment used, procedures, promotion, and other facets are summarized. (FM)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the reference interview is essential in the provision of public library reference service. A survey questionnaire was mailed to 125 small and medium sized public libraries throughout Ohio. The survey was administered in the spring of 1994 with a response rate of 56%. Respondents were asked…

A survey of reference librarians working in 114 public libraries in metropolitan Chicago was conducted in 1983 to determine their acceptance of specific community information and referral (I&R) services, as defined by Thomas Childers in his nationwide survey of public libraries in 1978. A total of 106 responses to the 1983 survey were…

A checklist of bibliographies available from the Reference Department of the Indiana State University Library was mailed to each member of the faculty and administrative staff in an effort to improve communications. The list included bibliographies which has been compiled by the library staff within the past five years. Two hundred persons (out of…

Lack of adequate administration is concluded to be the main cause of Network inefficiency and ineffectiveness. Some of the recommendations for improvement of Network administration are: (1) The Colorado State Library (CSL) should remain the central agency for administration of the Statewide Reference Network (SRN). CSL should accept responsibility…

A study is presented dealing with students' awareness of library reference services at university libraries. (AP)