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…

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)

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)

Utilization of the card catalog in the main library (Sterling Memorial Library) of Yale University was studied over a period of more than a year. Traffic flow in the catalog was observed, and was used as the basis for scheduling interviews with a representative sample of catalog users at the moment of catalog use. More than 2000 interviews were…

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)

Explores issues surrounding efforts to introduce online catalogs to users and presents relevant research results from Northwestern University's "Educating the Online Catalog User" project. Highlights include attitudes and preconceptions about online catalogs and instruction, research on online catalog use, suggestions for online catalog teaching,…

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)

Findings of study of user perceptions of online public access catalog in an academic library system indicate that: most patrons learned to use system from printed instructions; next most frequent sources of information were library staff and help feature; most patrons were extremely satisfied with system. Six references are cited. (EJS)

Discusses a study conducted at Ohio State University Libraries to develop and test a model that accurately estimates number of terminals required in an online public access catalog system. Data collection, research methodology, standard statistical distributions, and queuing models are noted. Four references are cited. (EJS)

Describes a study conducted to investigate patron use of the online catalog at New York's Nassau Community College. Provides findings related to the number and types of patrons using information terminals, time required for searches, preferred methods for learning to use the terminal, and the most common searches. (MAB)

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?…

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)…

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…

This study was undertaken at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to ascertain if a relationship exists between the kind and amount of information given for a specific item and the access point selected by the searcher to determine its availability. Data, study questions, and four references are included. (Author/CHC)

The study reported in this paper was conducted to determine the need for "see" references for authors' names in library catalogs. Nine-item patron questionnaires were placed in the University of Rhode Island's main library. Over the course of six years, 160 questionnaires were completed, 47 by undergraduate students, 76 by graduate…