When looking for ways to improve library services, we considered what data sources were readily available to us and how we could harvest and use this data. We investigated three years of chat reference statistics at Central Michigan University, a large research institution, to gain a better understanding of our patrons' chat behavior. We then…

This study was an investigation of salary differentials among State University of New York librarians representing university centers, state colleges, agricultural and technical colleges, and special and medical schools. Of institutions with active membership in the State University of New York Librarians' Association (SUNYLA), 337 librarians in…

Discusses the lack of quantitative standards in the ARL-ACRL Standards for University Libraries and demonstrates the use of statistical techniques to analyze data and derive minimal criteria which, while they describe quantitative relationships among libraries, provide no indication of quality of services. Sixteen references are cited. (RAA)

Through utilization of effective sampling procedures, libraries may obtain substantial savings in terms of data collection costs. A theoretical statistical sampling model is presented and two types of random sampling techniques are empirically compared as to their effectiveness in estimating a library usage parameter. Implications are drawn for…

Graphic novels are a blending of words and art in which the illustrations bear the same relationship to the text that a film carries to its screenplay. The hypothesis of this research is that, as a new form of literature, graphic novels will display inconsistent cataloging. Methodology consisted of searching the titles generated from Bowling Green…

Statistical sampling techniques for the measurement of book readership within libraries are described. The procedures, developed and initially implemented at Rider College, rely upon interviews of book readers inside the library rather than upon such indirect usage measures as which volumes are lift on tables for reshelving, or analyses of user…

A number of sample inventories were conducted to measure the effectiveness of the Tattle-Tape book detection systems used in the Moffitt Undergraduate Library and the General Reference Services area of Doe Library, and to establish baseline data for missing materials in four branch libraries (Education-Psychology, Engineering, Environmental…

Evaluates the validity of using circulation data as the index to the total utilization of a library collection and tests the hypothesis that the proposed mixture of Poisson distributions can describe and predict various use distribution. Seven statistical analysis listings, six algorithms, 20 tables, and 43 references are provided. (Author/RBF)

Describes study of manual and experimental automated circulation systems in a university library in Nigeria. Data were collected for eight circulation activities in order to calculate the direct labor costs of circulating a book on each system. Automated system's book circulation costs were higher although direct labor costs were less. (MBR)

This collection of papers is based on projects done in conjunction with a senior level/graduate course, "Applications of Operations Research Techniques in Systems Engineering." These seven papers describe research studies which utilized user surveys and/or statistical methods to analyze various library operations. The papers are…

An analysis is conducted of economic issues pertinent to library planning in higher education in the face of rising costs and diminishing financial support. The individual chapters deal with: 1) growth rates in large university libraries; 2) library costs in colleges and universities; 3) cost trends and long-range plans; 4) library data; and 5) a…

Reports on studies conducted to provide an in-depth picture of online catalog use in three aspects of library research: (1) as part of the reference process; (2) as used by unassisted users; (3) as a step in obtaining documents. The research methodology is offered as a model for surveying other library services or products. (14 references) (KRN)

Describes a study at the University of Michigan that examined the extent of serials duplication among branch and divisional libraries, the portion of the serials budget made up of duplications, and the relationship between duplication and serials characteristics. Ways to avoid serials duplication are suggested based on the findings of this study.…

Cost benefit accounting is not being used in academic reference libraries today but administrators are beginning to require quantitative evaluation of services provided. Several systems are described and evaluated. (35 references) (DH)

Using a standard survey instrument, the Barrier Scales, the present study surveyed university librarians' perceptions of barriers to greater use of library and information research utilization in Seoul, Korea. The greatest barrier was that the implications of research for practice were unclear, followed by a lack of replication of the research,…