Since recorded usage of vertical files in a university library does not always indicate actual needs of patrons, a study was conducted on the use of a collection of 20,000 pamphlets over a three-year period (1972-75). Data were collected from circulation records and from a questionnaire circulated with each pamphlet. Three subject areas had the…

In the five years since 260,000 Indochinese refugees of diverse language backgrounds departed their homelands for resettlement in 31 countries around the world, libraries have responded to the challenge of providing children's literature by acquiring reading materials in the language of origin, translations, and books about the homeland. This…

Little is known about the information needs and information-seeking strategies of dance professionals. Dance, an interdisciplinary subject that draws from music, theater, and anatomy and physiology, among other disciplines, has only recently begun to be taken seriously as an academic discipline. This preliminary study explores the extent to which…

Describes a needs assessment conducted at Oregon State University libraries to guide the design, content, and development of a natural resources digital library. Highlights include user profile; identification of questions; face-to-face interviews; workshops with users; current sources for relevant information; users' information needs; ability to…

This set of minutes from a semiannual meeting of the Association of Research Libraries includes two presentations: "Some Reflections on User Needs and the Information Transfer Process," a talk on government publications and the public's right to know by Joseph Morehead, and "A Commentary on the NCLIS Public Sector/Private Sector…

This paper is an explication of the concept of a network of consultants to help people obtain answers to day-to-day questions for which answers are known. Each member of such a network is viewed to have three capabilities: 1)answering questions directly from his own memory, 2)answering questions with the aid of library resources, and 3)referring…

Research was conducted on information needs and bibliographic problems of anthropologists at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sixty-four faculty members and graduate students were surveyed, and twenty faculty members were interviewed. Many areas of information retrieval problems and the different ways…

In May 1982 a questionnaire eliciting information about federal document needs and the experiences of librarians in libraries that are not depositories was mailed to more than 150 libraries in the Western New York region. Replies were received from 57 libraries: approximately 20% from college libraries; 50% from public libraries; and 30% from…

A review of demographic characteristics of the Lewis and Clark region of North Dakota indicated several obstacles to improved library service, including a large number of rural residents, a wide variety of people, and expected large scale development. Review of current library resources in the region showed that outside of Bismarck and Mandan they…

Describes sources of information at the New York State Library that pertain to hearing impairment. Topics addressed include New York State's role in the development of deaf education; background on the state library; and library services aimed at special populations. A selected bibliography of 45 relevant items in the library collection is…

The public library must meet the needs of the community and the patrons it serves. One area of need is for genealogical materials to support the study of genealogy and family history. Because of the lack of information on the materials needed to make up a core collection of Ohio materials, a select group of 18 libraries and 15 genealogical…

Newly revised, this one-volume guide will help information seekers identify, locate, and use key government reference sources. This book focuses on free information and depository materials--both available through toll-free phone numbers, mail or e-mail requests to agencies, or federal depository library collections. Arranged in four subject…

The collection and services of the Alexandria Digital Library (ADL) at the University of California Santa Barbara focus on geospatial information sources with links to geographic locations. Evaluation studies conducted within the ADL project are described as well as what was learned about user characteristics and reactions to ADL. (Author/AEF)

The readability level of material recommended for consumer health collections in public libraries is analyzed. All medical and lay items examined were found to exceed the standard reading skills of the general public. Discussion includes the relevance and appropriateness of sources, information needs and information-seeking behaviors, and a review…

Reiterates the invaluable educational role of the school library in Nigeria, and reviews the various attempts made to uncover the wide-ranging effects of the provision and use of collections of school learning resources. (Author/AEF)