This new column discusses the need for gaining administrative and academic support for library instruction programs to improve "library literacy," i.e., the learning of the basic skills for finding information, and summarizes the findings of a five-year experiment at the University of Colorado to improve/increase faculty and student…

Surveys two private and two public preschool facilities for usage of school resources and library services and materials. The study concludes that interest in bibliographic services is high; however, improvement of communication among schools and libraries is needed to promote greater use of library resources. (RAA)

The results of a survey of college offices of institutional research in the United States and Canada are presented. Offices were asked about use of computers in developing management information, interaction with the computer, types of hardware available, and the languages used. (Author/MLW)

Reports results of a study which tested a hierarchical model that considers public library use as a function of the user's individual characteristics, awareness of library services, perceived accessibility of the library, perceived ease of use of the library, and use of other nonpublic libraries. Twenty references are cited. (Author/FM)

Data from a survey of the teaching faculty at three academic institutions show that, of four variables that affect their perceptions and use of their libraries (institutional affiliation, subject area, academic rank, and length of time at institution), length of time proved most often statistically significant. (Author)

Identifies major sources of United Nations documentation on microform, and evaluates materials available from those sources in terms of library requirements and user needs. (Author/CMV)

Reviews research findings on the effects of user fees in online searching, and concludes that charging does discourage use of computerized retrieval systems. It is recommended that alternatives to direct user fees be sought whenever possible. (SW)

Studies the accessibility of periodicals at a large academic library and analyzes failure to locate items in terms of library and user error. The need for improved access to periodicals is confirmed. (RAA)

Presents findings, conclusions, and recommendations of a survey conducted to study the effectiveness of mini-libraries in rural Korea. Topics covered are mini-library management and influence, raising book funds, the user, rural reading interests, and cooperative circuits. (FM)

Analyzes the half-life of book use through analysis of over 10,000 regional and statewide interlibrary loan requests. Correcting for the growth of the literature, this study indicated that the half-lives of monographs may increase from lower to higher levels of the hierarchy in a library network. (CWM)

To determine the extent and success of the outsourcing of cataloging in academic libraries, a survey of 117 libraries investigated factors influencing the decision to outsource, reasons for outsourcing, what was outsourced, and how vendors were chosen. Results showed 28% of the libraries outsourced, of those, 47% would continue and 53% would…

Describes geographic information systems and the assembly of data for analysis for the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library (Indiana). Presents examples of possible analyses: distribution of library patrons; distances patrons travel to use libraries; branch library services and characteristics of populations served; numbers of patrons served…

A meta-analysis of studies of gender differences in computer attitudes and behavior found that males exhibited greater sex-role stereotyping of computers, higher computer self-efficacy, and more positive attitudes toward computers than females. Most differences in attitudes and behavior were small, with the largest found in high school students.…

Presents insights gained by studying media use in existing distributed research communities. Describes the "Virtual Mobility and Distributed Laboratories" research project and three naturalistic case studies, highlights the concepts of activity theory and media-richness theory and suggests an integration of the two, and addresses the applicability…

Studies how technical communicators use the Internet. Finds that the Internet plays a significant role in the work practices of technical communicators--respondents find the Internet helpful for contacting customers, obtaining updated technical information, and publishing online documentation, but they encounter company resistance and are…