Research on two exposure techniques--book displays and book lists--supports the idea that browsers need, want, and will use some type of guidance to narrow their book selection. Two reasons for this are given: these techniques require little patron effort and reach large numbers of browsers at one time. (Author/EM)

Interviews with public library nonfiction book users gathered data on: (1) subject content of the book; (2) book selection; (3) how much of the book was read; (4) use of the information; (5) success in finding information; (6) features of the book used for finding information; and (7) demographics on library use. (12 references) (MES)

Discussion of users' persistence in scanning displays of postings on computer-driven information systems focuses on a study of the Library Computer System (LCS) in Illinois, an online library system that provides access to an academic library collection. The use of transaction log analysis is described and results are analyzed. (12 references)…

Discusses the accuracy of reference service in libraries as measured by evaluating answers that reference librarians give to factual questions. More than 30 reference accuracy studies are analyzed, variables explored in each study are examined, further research needs are described, and suggestions for improving service quality for reference…

In-house surveys of patrons conducted in 20 public libraries in a county library system revealed no meaningful differences among the samples in reasons given for selecting the library to visit or in their uses of the library, although meaningful differences were found in their evaluations of the libraries' facilities. (Author/EM)

This investigation of the effects of age, gender, college status, and computer experience on students' attitudes toward an online catalog measured student attitudes on three subscales--computer anxiety, computer confidence, and computer liking. Results of analysis of variance showed that computer experience was significantly related to computer…

Discusses data gathered from study assessing library users' behavior and perceptions of reference transaction. Characteristics of reference clientele (address, age, education), questions asked, answers given (type, source, length of time spent), relationships between variables, and cost of reference service are highlighted. Instructions and forms…

Reports on a study that investigated the effects of differing amounts of bibliographic information presented on catalog cards on selection of books by secondary school students. Data are presented on correct choice of books relating to a hypothetical assignment; time to complete the activity; and levels of satisfaction, certainty, confusion, and…

Describes an investigation of the differences between the levels of the independent variables of gender, college level, previous computer experience, and familiarity with computer keyboarding on college students' attitudes toward the usefulness of a library computer system. Based on the results, some recommendations are made for practice and…

Reviews the literature on qualitative methods in information retrieval research. Qualitative research is shown to be noncontrolling, holistic and case oriented, about processes, open and flexible, diverse in methods, humanistic, inductive, and scientific. Relevance to library and information science and sources of information on qualitative…

Describes study conducted at Chicago Public Library's Computer-Assisted Reference Center (CARC) that examined patron's evaluations of their online searches and the search service provided. The relationship between user satisfaction and relevance, precision, and recall is highlighted, and suggestions for future research are offered. (40 references)…

Reviews the research and commentary on individuals' questions and specific reference queries that characterize two general approaches in librarianship and other disciplines: question itself as phenomenon of questioner's behavior, linguistic performance, or cognitive state; interaction between question and answer focusing on appropriateness of…

Study describes actual and ideal linkage roles of four educators trained to link clients with online bibliographic retrieval service, effect of roles on clients' satisfaction with service, conceptualization of role in literature as compared with implementation in field, and implications of findings for educational knowledge dissemination. Twelve…

This study examined the experiences of 59 novice end users with a multifile, full-text information retrieval system. A regression model was developed of the relative contributions of computer, system, and subject knowledge to search success as measured by user judgments of the relevance of retrieved documents. Results indicated all three variables…

A factor analysis of affective data gathered from searchers of an online library catalog, and a card catalog allowed researchers to isolate factors leading to success or failure in information retrieval. Factor patterns serve to identify how searches are evaluated by users. Further research is suggested as are features to facilitate successful…