Discusses the needs of remote users of online public access catalogs (OPACs). User expectations are discussed; problems encountered by remote-access users are examined, including technical problems and searching problems; support services are described, including instruction, print guides, and online help; and differences from the needs of…

Compares data collected in library surveys of Internet users at Seton Hall University in 1998 and 2001 to provide information on changes in library users' Internet use behavior, satisfaction levels, and problems in using the Internet. Discusses use of the university library home page; search strategies; and search training. (Author/LRW)

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…

One hundred sixty-one MEDLINE searches conducted by third year medical students were analyzed and evaluated to determine which search behaviors were used, whether those individual moves are effective, and whether there is a relationship between specific search behaviors and the effectiveness of the search strategy as a whole. The typical search…

Analysis of the needs of users of Compact Disk-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) was performed at the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida. A review of the literature indicated that problems associated with selecting the appropriate database, searching, and requiring technical assistance were the probable areas of user need. The library has 17…

Discussion of bibliographic instruction for users of CD-ROM products highlights computer-based tutorials (CBT) that were developed at the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Western Ontario. Structured searching is described, and problems created by the lack of commercial CD-ROM tutorials and adequate training videos are…

In an effort to verify that the library research skills that comprise the library media instructional program at the Columbus (Ohio) School for Girls are those that college librarians would regard as essential, a questionnaire was mailed in February 1987 to the undergraduate libraries of 142 colleges and universities most often attended by…

This 16-item questionnaire was sent to 142 selected college and university libraries in February 1987 to determine which library skills academic librarians consider desirable for undergraduate students. Questionnaires were returned by 89 respondents (62.7%). The number of respondents for each question and the titles of the resources cited in their…

Reports on a study of the information searching behavior of 35 high school students. Problems that the students had searching an online catalog are identified, and implications for instruction are considered. (EAM)

Describes the goals, planning, implementation, and assessment of a term paper clinic for undergraduates conducted by Master of Library Science students and provides recommendations for similar undertakings. The results of a participant survey, including how students heard of the course and their impressions of it, are presented. A copy of the…

This document is the final report to the U.S. Department of Education of a research and development grant awarded to establish a fully equipped electronic training room and test the effectiveness of hands-on instruction in learning the NOTIS OPAC (online public access catalog) and the Silver-Platter ERIC database on CD-ROM. The purpose of the…

Users of optical data disk (CD-ROM) materials at the Main Library workstations of the State University of New York at Albany were surveyed to examine the problems they encountered while conducting their searches, identify factors that interfere with their task performance, determine their needs with regard to improvement in the databases they…