As a continuation of research into online public access catalog systems (OPAC's), this study focused on the actual use of OPAC's and on refinement of the methodologies used in carrying out transaction analysis studies. Current patron use patterns were obtained via machine-readable catalogs from four online public catalog systems: The Library of…

Retrievability of titles of 152 periodicals were compared in a fixed-length algorithmic search (Library Computer System) and a keyword search (Washington Library Network) to determine which type of search algorithm is more successful with titles of varying lengths. Three references and a list of English language stopwords are appended. (EJS)

This report focuses on a discussion of findings from analyses of computer transaction logs contributed by four of the online catalog systems used in the Public Access Project. It supplements the analyses of User and Non-User Questionnaires by providing analyses of data from the systems themselves. The four systems contributing data to this…

Describes a study which investigated plans of Association of Research Libraries members in New England for total automated library systems, whether compatibility of microcomputers with existing or proposed equipment is a factor in microcomputer selection, plans for microcomputer use, and how appropriate microcomputer tasks are identified and…

Reports results of survey of 21 smaller to medium-sized (50,000-200,000 volumes) libraries which was conducted to determine factors used to make selection decisions in purchase of automated turnkey systems from established vendors. Factors examined include costs, software, hardware, and vendors for parts A (actual experience) and B (hypothetical…

Interviews were conducted with the heads of 11 business branches of major public libraries to examine how these experts view the future of the public library in the electronically dominated information environment of the future. Eleven references and a list of librarians interviewed are appended. (Author/EJS)

This survey assessing use of online databases in marine science libraries indicates that, despite generally small staff and collection size, there is considerable involvement in OCLC and computerized reference service and active planning for public catalogs, serials automation, and integrated database management systems. Eleven references and…

Presents overview of two studies (1981, 1984) investigating the status of automation in U.S. community college learning resources centers (LRCs). Factors leading to automation, current level of automation, LRC organizational structure, attitudes toward and perceived constraints on automated services, consortium participation, hardware options, and…

Designed for use by study coordinators, library supervisors, and data collectors, this manual is the basic reference and training document from the 1982 field survey of public online catalog users and nonusers in 31 U.S. research, academic, community college, public, and governmental libraries. The field survey was coordinated by the Research…

The frequency with which students borrow works of literature that can be called eminent or great works from a university library was examined in two studies that are interesting for their methodology and their findings. An operational definition of great or eminent works was developed, and a list of such works was derived from three sources on…

From the library's viewpoint, collection growth and the need to frequently update index terms make automation almost inevitable. But this triumph of technology over print is hard on scholars, who find microforms and printouts difficult to read and who cannot browse a database like a shelf or card catalog. (SJL)

This staffing survey of 34 Geac minicomputer-based circulation system installations (public, academic, state, and special libraries, library consortia) was designed to identify the variables which affect staffing needs. Discussion covers differences in responses, types of staff positions, core and ancillary job duties, application training,…

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 review of the transition from library card catalogs to online public access catalogs (OPAC) (1981-1982) discusses methods employed by online catalog use studies (self-administered questionnaires, OPAC transaction logs, focused-group interviews, feature analysis, online search and retrieval experiments) and new directions for OPAC research…

Suggesting that the library catalog of the future should be an analytic catalog, this article reports that sample of books in a community college library showed that approximately 20% were collections or anthologies containing an average of 30 works each. Advantages and costs of analytical catalogs are considered. (6 references) (EJS)