A pilot survey of academic reference librarians in Nevada determined that 74% of those identified as second-career librarians cited prior work experience as influencing their present approach to work. Effects noted were service orientation, subject expertise, teaching skills, "information provider" philosophy, empathy, and interviewing…

Academic librarians report that use by increasingly large numbers of high school students is creating pressures in budgets, staff, and materials. Indications are that these demands will increase: students are increasingly sophisticated in their information needs; they are mobile; and school library media centers' collections have been weakened by…

A survey of academic librarians determined that the use of e-mail in the follow-up stage of a library research project using mailed questionnaires was as effective as postal mail in speed and size of response. Discusses additional benefits (interpersonal communication, reduced time and costs) and drawbacks (time spent identifying messages…

Explores library-user infatuation with electronic resources, the rapid growth of electronic resources and their impact on traditional reference services, and reference services in an electronic society. Discusses a survey of 200 academic libraries investigating electronic resources and their impact on library personnel, especially on…

Analysis of user surveys at Texas A&M University indicated service is rated highest at the reference desk with 80.4% satisfied, while 55.3% found what they needed at the information desk and 55.3% in the database room. Although the information desk referred 62.5% to other sources, only 46.4% were satisfied with the referral. Includes survey…

A comprehensive survey of the faculty members and graduate teaching assistants at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), was conducted in April 1987 with a response rate of over 75% (N=1,275). The purpose of the questionnaire--a product of discussions with the Faculty Senate Library Committee and library and campus administrators--was to…

The 28 papers in this sourcebook relate to the evaluation of children's services in public libraries: (1) "Introduction to Evaluation" (Jane Robbins and Douglas Zweizig); (2) "Research and Measurement in Library Services to Children" (Adele Fasick); (3) "Evaluating Children's Services" (Diana Young); (4) "What Is…

This publication provides librarians with a broader understanding of outsourcing issues in academic libraries. The book investigates the literature, then presents a survey of more than 200 academic research libraries involved with outsourcing projects. This book synthesizes prevailing theories and practice, details pros and cons, an outlines steps…

A usability survey was conducted at the University of Mississippi Libraries as part of the ongoing assessment of the library and its services. By setting criteria to measure the success of the survey, librarians at UM were able to assess if the library home page successfully met the goals and mission statement of the library.

A survey of 62 academic library appointees new to the profession (1995-96) investigated the perceived importance of 46 resume items. Resume items were ranked according to importance and compared with rankings in Thomas M. Gaughan's (1980) survey of personnel officers in research libraries. Considerable overlap between surveys suggested more…

Facing shifting organizational cultures, technological innovations, and the growth of digital information, administrators must consider how best to utilize the resources and staff devoted to cataloging special collections. A survey of special collections cataloging among Association of Research Libraries member institutions showed variation in…

Although librarians in approximately one-third of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) have a rank or status similar to other faculty, their activities, responsibilities and involvement vary considerably. A survey was conducted to determine the autonomy of library faculty organizations and their role in library and university governance, and…

Salary and related data is reported for 8,216 professional staff members in the 108 university Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries, including law and medical libraries. Data, summarized in 42 tables, includes: filled positions; average, median, and beginning professional salaries; average years of professional experience;…

This report on a funded project that established a chemistry research information service for researchers in the University of Houston's chemistry department provides detailed descriptions of the three objectives of the project, together with an explanation of how each objective was/is to be accomplished. These objectives were/are: (1) to document…