Librarians often wish to know whether readers in a particular discipline favor e-books or print books. Because print circulation and e-book usage statistics are not directly comparable, it can be hard to determine the relative interest of readers in the two types of books. This study demonstrates a two-step method by which librarians can assess…

Describes the results of a study undertaken to try to refute the findings of a book use study at the University of Pittsburgh (Library Journal, November 15, 1977) when applied to a smaller community college. Most of the findings of this study are compatible with the first study, however, and the dissimilarities are those of detail rather than…

Behavior of patrons choosing between a person sitting at a counter and one sitting at a desk at each of two reference points was observed at the reference department during remodeling at the M. D. Anderson Library of the University of Houston. Results showed a statistically relevant preference for the counter. (Author/JD)

Results of two surveys concerned with the provision of books to readers in an academic library are reported. Simple and inexpensive measurement techniques--diary and survey slips--were used to measure holdings, availability, and performance rates. Results are compared to DeProspo's methods for measuring holdings and availability rates. (JPF)

During summer and fall quarters, 1972, Southern Illinois University Library Map Room circulated 2,721 maps and aerial photos to 223 borrowers. The circulation rates are analyzed in terms of academic status, department, purpose, area, subject, and form. (Author/CH)

This study analyzes statistics showing university faculty circulation of books for one fiscal year, and makes comparisons by department, academic rank, degree, sex, and students' rank--graduate or undergraduate. Findings indicate that 57.8% of the faculty had checked out one or more books. The departments with the highest use were Foreign…

Presents and discusses the results of two studies undertaken at the University of California at Berkeley to determine the relative ease of using computer output microform (COM) library catalogs in rollfilm or fiche format for library users and library personnel. Two data tables and 11 references are included. (JL)

Ninety-one randomly selected users of the University of Oregon map library were surveyed in a term project to determine user characteristics and opinions, and results were compared with a 1972 survey. Data were collected on user status, fields of study, reasons for use, frequency and time of use, type of materials used, and satisfaction with…

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)

This study of 50 pairs of popular (written for layman) and technical (designed for those having specialized knowledge in particular discipline) monographs matched by subject, date of publication, and date of acquisition indicates that although technical works circulated more than popular, difference was not statistically significant. Seven…

This comparative survey of current practices in classification and cataloging of printed materials was concerned with six questions: (1) What procedures are involved in cataloging and classification? (2) Could some of this work be done by a centralized cataloging service? (3) Who is doing the work of cataloging now and what are his qualifications?…

Describes a study that was conducted to determine whether the searching behavior of remote users of LIAS (Library Information Access System), Pennsylvania State University's online public access catalog (OPAC), differed from those using the OPAC within the library. Differences in search strategies and in user satisfaction are discussed. (eight…

An ongoing research project at the University of Alabama explores the term paper bibliographies of students receiving two different forms of library instruction. Two librarians score each bibliography for appropriateness and quality of sources. Results to date indicate that bibliographies of students receiving extra library instruction are not…

Describes a study conducted at the University of California, Irvine, to determine the utilization of federal, state, local, and international documents. Highlights include circulation versus in-house use, status of borrower, gender, classes of documents used, microfiche use, date of publications used, and comparisons with previous use studies. (29…

This study investigated the use patterns of four CD-ROM systems--Newsbank Electronic Index, SilverPlatter's ERIC and PsycLIT, and Dissertation Abstracts Ondisc--and their print index counterparts in the University of Georgia (UGA) Main Library, which houses collections and provides library services for the humanities, the social sciences, and…