Introduction: Evidence-based practice is a process through which evidence in its various forms is sourced, appraised and applied in order to solve a problem, inform decision making, or improve practice. The purpose of this paper is to share findings from a qualitative research study that sought to identify evidence used by Australian special…

This study uses three cohorts of first-time, full-time undergraduate students (N = 8,652) at a large, metropolitan, public research university to examine the impact of student use of three library resources (workstations, study rooms, and research clinics) on academic performance. To deal with self-selection bias and estimate this impact more…

Reports a study of the distribution of use among users of a short loan collection in an academic library. Results indicate the most active one-third of all users generate between two-thirds and three-quarters of all use. A brief list of references is provided. (Author/SW)

This paper discusses some of the more recent major user studies and examines their methods, findings, and conclusions. The appendix includes a brief bibliography of bibliographies of user studies. (Author/MF)

Information needs and research systems of scientists in various disciplines. (LS)

The main concern is with identifying exemplar user need studies and discussing the possible value of their methodology for a broader range of library services. (Author/MF)

Ten thousand students tell what's wrong (and what's right) about their school and public libraries. (Author)

A survey of recent writings in the field of library research. (Editor)

This study reports an analysis of some aspects of the use of periodicals by freshmen at the University of North Carolina, as related to the undergraduate and other campus libraries. The study also asks whether the dispersion of citations, among periodicals cited by freshmen in bibliographies of required term papers, conforms to a general law of…

The eleven conference papers emphasize the need for research into the "why" and the "who" of the library non-user. Attitudes and environmental factors contributing to non-use are: (1) lack of student motivation by pre-college experience with libraries; (2) failure of instructors to utilize the library except as a reserve collection, (3) failure of…

Presents data on the use of microfilm backfiles of 140 periodicals over a three-year period in a community college library, showing 25 percent of titles were unused in each year, with five titles accounting for over 50 percent and 30 titles for over 90 percent of use. Scholarly journals were rarely used. (RT)

If the information capacity or the diversity of products of any system is to be increased, the attitudes of the users must be considered or they may simply not use the system, and turn to more personal means of communication for their information. (Author)

This article presents a psychological perspective on research in librarianship and explores potential for application of psychological research principles and practices to behavioral research in libraries. Highlights include evolution of a theory of user behavior and the nature of psychological research and research designs and methodologies.…

Reviews research on obsolescence (decline over time in validity or utility of information), citing two major state-of-the-art reviews and subsequent research involving citation studies and use studies based on circulation and reshelving statistics. A problem-solving management model developed to aid libraries deal with obsolescence is discussed.…

The primary objective of this project was the study of the utilization of nonprint media in the public schools of the State of Maryland in order to determine current patterns and identify developing trends in the use of media materials and equipment. Secondary objectives were to determine variations in patterns of use of media materials and…