This kit on planning systems updates a 1974 Management Studies Office Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) kit in which developments in planning activities among Association of Research Libraries (ARL) were reviewed. At the time of the original study, in 1972, planning techniques and systems were a subject of much interest because rising…

Based on the concept that library use measurement should have as its basic starting point the individual patron, a method of data collection and analysis has been developed that explores individual patterns of borrowing over time. The method accounts for the number of visits on which borrowing takes place, number of items borrowed per visit, and…

This study investigates the bases for constructing quantitative and qualitative measures of Australian Colleges of Advanced Education (CAE) library collection adequacy, and the feasibility of producing specialized and appropriate measures to guide future collection planning. Adequacy is based on the libraries' policies for providing materials to…

In order to ascertain what data elements should commonly be considered in the development of a meaningful procedure for recording and analyzing library reference transaction data for planning purposes, a comparison was made between the development, use, and results of surveys designed and tested at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the…

This report describes a study which used computer analyses of the center's film booking records for fiscal year 1981 to identify those subject areas in the collection for which holdings did not seem to accurately reflect the clientele's levels of interest, as indicated by their use of the collection. Results identified 60 subject areas which met…

This study examines the actual and the desired performance of school librarians in areas of planning, accessing networks, instructional and curriculum development, and production of learning resources. A questionnaire based on the 1976 certification requirements for Texas learning resources specialists was constructed as the survey instrument.…

Divided into five parts, this report describes a research project which used the Delphi method to identify the future roles of the library at Mercer County Community College through 1986, and to set priorities for those roles. The introductory section includes definitions of the problem, the terms used, the subject, and the organization of the…

The cost and funding studies project of the proposed Western Interstate Bibliographic Network began activities in July 1975. To support the development and implementation of western interstate bibliographic network capabilities, the project concentrated on the collection of cost data in western libraries, the impact of network services on…

This book shows teacher-librarians and school library media specialists how to perform qualitative research and use the results effectively to promote the school library and build a shared understanding of the impact of school libraries on student learning. Hands-on guidance is provided for performing action research, including how to establish…

This paper presents guidelines and tools for action research in the school library which will help the librarian justify expenditures and personnel and evaluate and plan services. It shows how statistics can be turned into meaningful knowledge about what is currently being done in the library, how well it is being done, whether it should be done,…

The cost and funding studies project of the proposed Western Interstate Bibliographic Network began activities in July 1975. Major activities during the third quarter included: (1) renaming of the program to Western Interstate Library Coordinating Organization (WILCO) to reflect the facilitating and coordinating role anticipated for the entire…

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education and the Postsecondary Planning Commission conducted this study of the library resources and needs of South Carolina postsecondary institutions as part of its goal to improve the quality of South Carolina state higher education programs. Questionnaires sent to college libraries were designed to test…

The 28 papers in this sourcebook relate to the evaluation of children's services in public libraries: (1) "Introduction to Evaluation" (Jane Robbins and Douglas Zweizig); (2) "Research and Measurement in Library Services to Children" (Adele Fasick); (3) "Evaluating Children's Services" (Diana Young); (4) "What Is…

Discusses issues relating to the reliability, validity, utility, and information value of unobtrusive testing of library reference services; provides suggestions for practical applications of these criteria; applies study findings to library decision making and planning; and identifies topics for further methodological refinement. (Author/CLB)