Describes a computer simulation model developed to provide information on the number of terminals or readers needed in the advent of microfilm or computerized catalogs in libraries. Systems with two to 14 terminals are simulated, and decision variables include average patron waiting time, number of patrons lost, and average terminal utilization.…

Findings of a longitudinal study indicate high success rates for OCLC as a source of cataloging copy. They further suggest that holding patterns for many types of materials may be unnecessary. (Author/RAA)

Findings of study of online searchers' self-supported behaviors and attitudes indicate that: there are wide individual differences among online searchers in attitudes and behaviors; searchers from academic institutions differ from counterparts in other library settings; experience appears to be positively related to flexible, trial-and-error…

A survey of community college libraries found that they retain traditional bibliographic practices, there is little commonality in the organization of audiovisual materials, and librarians are undecided about participation in computerized library networks. AACR2 seems to have gained acceptance. A summary of the results and three references are…

Reports the results of a national survey of online systems in academic libraries which gathered information on acquisitions, serials, circulation, cataloging, interlibrary loan, and integrated systems. The results include relationships between library characteristics, such as size, and library reports of present systems and future plans, methods…

A survey of 430 users of online catalog at Ohio State University Libraries found that most users are undergraduate students (68 percent) and that majority (95 percent) choose online catalog as first source of information. Fewer performed known-item searches and success rates were generally higher than reported in earlier studies. (8 references)…

Surveys reactions of students and faculty to the online circulation system at University of Guelph Library, Ontario. Findings concerning status of users, frequency of use, effectiveness of instructions on screen, convenience of terminal locations, type of information required by user, and general comments are noted. Four references are provided.…

Discussion of the adequacy of indexing for interdisciplinary areas focuses on women's studies. A study that examined access to women's studies journals through standard indexes and abstracts is described, and results are reported which indicate that most journals are not sufficiently indexed and that there is a need for an online index. (six…

Analyses of the success-failure rates and user reactions using four public access online systems indicate that users overwhelmingly preferred the online to manual systems. Improved subject access emerged as the salient feature requiring improvement. Seven references are included. (Author/RAA)

Describes a survey of academic libraries that examined whether the availability of abstracting and indexing services online has resulted in the cancellation of equivalent print subscriptions. The results indicate that subscriptions are being cancelled at a significant rate because of cost and lack of use rather than the availability of online…

Examines the development and implementation of the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) systems on RLIN (Research Libraries Information Network) and OCLC and describes the results of a survey of academic and research member libraries that was conducted to learn how the two CJK systems have been incorporated into local automated library systems. (10…

Suggests improvement to online catalogs based on a 2 1/2 year study of patron search patterns. Preliminary findings indicate significant differences in search strategies and suggest that these strategies and the reasons patrons choose them should be important factors in the design of future online catalogs. Fourteen references are included.…

Describes how group of end users (engineering undergraduates) at Chalmers University of Technology were trained to perform interactive online searching on BYGGDOK, a small, specialized Scandinavian database. Goals and objectives of the instruction, teaching methods, evaluation, and comparison of searching between end users and intermediaries are…

Analyzes queueing statistics to determine their utility in predicting catalog usage and the relationships between card and serials catalogs and to pinpoint peak catalog usage. This measurement should provide one factor in a simulation model to accurately predict the number of catalog devices needed for alternative catalog formats. Eight references…

Results of study on patron information retrieval success and patron use patterns at Ohio State University show that 90 percent of online users preferred online to card catalog; 64 percent of those who tried online catalog switched to it; and patrons used the online more than the card catalog. References are provided. (EJS)