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Sage, Charles; And Others – 1980
As a means of studying the present public catalogs and possible catalog format alternatives at the Iowa State University library, a 6-week queuing study was conducted. Objectives of the study were (1) to determine the correlation between other library statistics (e.g., door counts and circulation records) and use of the public catalogs; (2) to…
Descriptors: College Libraries, Correlation, Library Catalogs, Library Research

Dwyer, James R. – Library Resources and Technical Services, 1981
Reports on microcatalog use studies conducted at the University of Oregon which demonstrated that users encounter difficulties with multiple-file microfiche catalogs. Retrospective conversion strategies and the costs of converting records into machine-readable form are considered. Thirty-five references are listed. (FM)
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Bibliographies, Higher Education, Library Catalogs

Simmons, Peter; Foster, Jocelyn – Information Technology and Libraries, 1982
Describes a user study by library students to assess user attitudes toward the format and information contained in a microfiche catalog. While indicating general user approval, the survey did not discriminate between views of the catalog as a basic finding tool and as a continuation of traditional card catalog information content. (RAA)
Descriptors: College Libraries, Foreign Countries, Higher Education, Library Catalogs

Specht, Jerry – Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 1980
A study of patron use of the University of Illinois online circulation system (LCS) found that 56 percent of original known item searches and 86 percent of location searches were successful, and that graduate students use the system very differently from the way undergraduates use it. (FM)
Descriptors: College Libraries, Library Catalogs, Library Circulation, Online Systems

Lucas, Thomas A. – College and Research Libraries, 1993
Describes a transaction log analysis of the New York Public Library research libraries' OPAC (online public access catalog). Much of the remote searching occurred when the libraries were closed and was more evenly distributed than internal searching, demonstrating that remote searching could expand access and reduce peak system loads. (Contains…
Descriptors: Computer Networks, Information Management, Library Automation, Library Catalogs
Tolle, John E.; And Others – 1983
As a continuation of research into online public access catalog systems (OPAC's), this study focused on the actual use of OPAC's and on refinement of the methodologies used in carrying out transaction analysis studies. Current patron use patterns were obtained via machine-readable catalogs from four online public catalog systems: The Library of…
Descriptors: Data Collection, Library Automation, Library Catalogs, Library Research

Broadus, Robert N. – College and Research Libraries, 1983
Review of research on online public access catalogs sponsored by Council on Library Resources notes the scope and method (questionnaires administered to catalog users and nonusers in 29 participating institutions) and findings and applications (including organizational setting and computer system, catalog use and satisfaction, and implications).…
Descriptors: Databases, Information Retrieval, Library Catalogs, Library Services
Borgman, Christine L. – 1983
This report describes a computer-monitoring study of users of the Ohio State University Libraries' online catalog, an established and heavily used information retrieval system. Designed for end users, online library catalogs require little or no formal training, and often replace an existing manual system. Data were gathered unobtrusively by…
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Higher Education, Information Retrieval, Library Catalogs
Dwyer, James R. – 1979
Microcatalog use studies at the University of Oregon have demonstrated that users encounter access difficulties when confronted with a multiple file microfiche catalog. This research verifies theories by Mooers, Zipf, and others that the public minimizes search efforts and implies that closed catalogs with supplements such as add-on catalogs will…
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Cataloging, Costs, Higher Education

Kern-Simirenko, Cheryl – Library Hi Tech, 1983
Discusses characteristics of typical online public access catalogs (OPACs) and examines patron use via printouts of transaction logs for three separate systems. Desirable features of OPACs (mnemonic search commands, boolean operators, forgiveness or automatic truncation, browsing a subject heading index, suggestive prompts) and need for…
Descriptors: Information Retrieval, Library Catalogs, Library Instruction, Online Systems

Akeroyd, John – Journal of Documentation, 1990
Discussion of online public access catalogs focuses on a study that evaluated 3 different systems in Great Britain. Comparative evaluations were made using structured exercises to determine searching techniques and transaction logs to investigate user behavior. Comments on future research are also given. (12 references) (LRW)
Descriptors: Comparative Analysis, Evaluation Methods, Foreign Countries, Library Catalogs

Chen, Hui-Min; Cooper, Michael D. – Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 2002
Uses continuous-time stochastic models, mainly based on semi-Markov chains, to derive user state transition patterns, both in rates and in probabilities, in a Web-based information system. Describes search sessions from transaction logs of the University of California's MELVYL library catalog system and discusses sequential dependency. (Author/LRW)
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Higher Education, Library Catalogs, Markov Processes

Markey, Karen – Information Technology and Libraries, 1983
Findings of focused-group interviews conducted for OCLC study of library users and online public access catalogs (OPACs) indicate users like OPACs, have problems finding right subject heading, envision features to improve subject access, want access to more than books, and want OPACs to provide new services. Eight references are listed. (EJS)
Descriptors: Databases, Information Retrieval, Interviews, Library Catalogs

Gouke, Mary Noel; Pease, Sue – Journal of Academic Librarianship, 1982
Describes a study which compared patron success in finding the same group of titles in the online catalog and the card catalog in two department libraries at Ohio State University. Reasons for patron success and failure with the online catalog are outlined and discussed. Five data tables are included. (Author/JL)
Descriptors: Branch Libraries, College Libraries, Comparative Analysis, Departments
Matthews, Joseph R. – 1982
Results from one of a series of cooperative projects to study public access to online catalogs are discussed. This report focuses on a survey of 1,152 users and 1,315 non-users of six computer systems at seven libraries, with library participants including (1) Claremont Colleges Library, which uses the Claremont Total Library System; (2) the…
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Library Automation, Library Catalogs, Library Services