Purpose: The aim of this paper is to study the impact of internet search engine usage with special reference to OPAC searches in the Punjabi University Library, Patiala, Punjab (India). Design/methodology/approach: The primary data were collected from 352 users comprising faculty, research scholars and postgraduate students of the university. A…

The paper examines the level of library automation and virtual library development in four academic libraries. A validated questionnaire was used to capture the responses from academic librarians of the libraries under study. The paper discovers that none of the four academic libraries is fully automated. The libraries make use of librarians with…

Reports on a study of keyword and Boolean searching by users of an online public access catalog (OPAC) at the University of Oklahoma. Results of survey questionnaires and transaction log analysis indicate users search more often by keyword, even though the search usually fails and they don't understand it. (15 tables) (Author/LRW)

Discussion of users' persistence in scanning displays of postings on computer-driven information systems focuses on a study of the Library Computer System (LCS) in Illinois, an online library system that provides access to an academic library collection. The use of transaction log analysis is described and results are analyzed. (12 references)…

Four articles review the development of the MELVYL system, which began as the online catalog for the University of California campuses. Topics discussed include union catalogs; local library systems versus bibliographic utilities; retrospective conversion; MELVYL as a reference tool; and an online survey of remote use of MELVYL. (LRW)

Describes a study that compared figures derived from a questionnaire-based, book availability survey and from computer records of the use of the library's catalog. Although differences emerged, it was concluded that the computer monitoring technique could act as a surrogate for availability surveys. (AEF)

Researchers studying subject searching distributed an online questionnaire to users who access the University of California's online public access catalog, MELVYL, from public access terminals in the libraries of the University of California at Santa Cruz. This article discusses the results of transaction log analysis, comparison of in-library and…

Discussion of user persistence in displaying postings from an online catalog focuses on a study at the University of Illinois at Chicago that compared results of an earlier study of user persistence with a recent study of users and their online catalog, LUIS. Results of questionnaires and transaction log analysis are reported. (LRW)

Describes the development of a computerized library instruction program using presentation software at Texas A&M University. Application to end-user training on the OPAC (online public access catalog) is explained, software capabilities and hardware requirements are discussed, the design of an audiotape narrative is described, and student…

Describes a study that was conducted to provide information on the extent of bibliographic instruction in curriculum materials centers (CMCs) or related library/media collections designed for the use of prospective teachers and teacher educators. The study paid particular attention to instruction in the use of online public catalogs. (30…

Discussion of resistance to technological changes in libraries focuses on a study conducted at Algoma University College (Canada) to determine library users' reactions to the online catalog. The coexistence of traditional card catalogs and online catalogs is discussed, and the importance of the role public service staff play is emphasized. (nine…

In 1981 and 1982, the Research Libraries Group (RLG) and four other organizations participated in a coordinated study of public online catalog users and nonusers. Standard, self-administered questionnaires were used to gather data from 8,094 users and 3,981 nonusers in 31 research, academic, community college, public, and governmental libraries…

This study sought to determine the levels of persistence in scanning postings that are typical of users of one online public information system, LCS (Library Computer System), as it was configured in Illinois in 1987. The study involved observation of users doing searches in an academic library, questioning them about what they had done, and then…

Intended for University of Connecticut library users and staff, a series of recommendations is presented for a training program to enhance adoption of the new Anglo American Cataloging Rules (AACR2). These recommendations are based on responses to two staff questionnaires, related readings, and the collective experience of the task force members.…

A serials cancellation pilot project was conducted by the Pittsburgh Regional Library Center (PRLC) from August 1981 to December 1983 in order to demonstrate the utility of using a large online union list of serials for making and reporting collection management decisions. A total of 21 academic libraries and one public library from Pennsylvania,…