Describes a survey of student patrons of a Nigerian academic library that sought to assess user needs and examine student attitudes toward the library. Findings discussed include prior library experience, effectiveness of library orientation programs, actual use of the library, student relationships with library staff, and student reactions to…

Reports on the development, practice, and success of instructional methods for teaching CD-ROM use which were explored at the Wayne State University Library. Results of a preliminary survey designed to evaluate user reaction to CD-ROM products are presented. A copy of the questionnaire is appended. (MES)

Describes an evaluation project in which King's College Library acted as a test site for the OCLC version of ERIC on CD-ROM. The description covers the provision of equipment, software, accompanying literature, and assessment questionnaires, as well as characteristics of the system and search facilities. Results discussed include user reaction and…

Reports on a study of the impact of CD-ROM on online searching at an academic library. Data are presented on online connect time, numbers of online users, and types of users of various services. The effects of library policy and fees are discussed. (MES)

Describes an evaluative study that examined the extent of integration between a school library program and the science program. The discussion covers areas in which cooperative planning and teaching were found to be weak and makes recommendations for improvements in communication, curriculum planning, library collections, and creative library…

A study investigated the relationship of medical student experience with computer searches to their continued use of search services. Results indicated that, among the 184 students studied, searching the MEDLINE database once a month through the first years of medical school improved the likelihood that students would continue searching.…

Discusses the use of barcoding as a method for measuring the frequency-of-use patterns of the bound journal collection at Northern Illinois University. Highlights include a team approach to planning; collection development; collection maintenance; hardware and software; and technological, economic, organizational, and political implications. (27…

Explores the question of the cost effectiveness of ownership versus access to low-use serials using data collected during a use study at the State University of New York at Albany and from a national cost study. Discussion includes interlibrary loan, document delivery services, and the impact of cancellations on user's needs. (LRW)

Assesses interest and apprehension concerning the use of computer-mediated communications services. Perspectives on diffusion theory, technology needs, and apprehension are applied to examine attitudes toward the impact of computer information services on society. The variance of computer utility measures implies a new set of attitudinal…

Describes a study that investigated fifth-grade children's search behavior using an automated library catalog designed for children called the Science Library Catalog. Level of science domain knowledge was found to influence both their success and search behavior. (Author/LRW)

Examines whether the paper-medium structure of the major classics bibliography, "L'Annee Philologique", validly reflects information retrieval paradigms of individual classicists. Faculty and graduate student attitudes toward and use of features of the paper-medium form are discussed, and attitudes toward the upcoming CD-ROM version are examined.…

Provides preliminary results of a longitudinal, qualitative research study of document use by academic agricultural economists in actual situations. Topics include users' changing information needs, use patterns, decision making regarding relevant items, and criteria and decision rules used to read or cite documents across stages of research.…

This study assessed the impact of a course on information resources for engineers at the University of Michigan. Questionnaires were sent to 60 students who had taken the class and 60 who had not. Results indicated that students who had taken the course identified more resources, rated college and public libraries higher, and spent more time…

Identifies issues on the use of computer networks in K-12, business, and university environments, and reviews elements that play a major role in shaping wide-area networking use in elementary and secondary education. Discussion includes the technical and logistical elements, issues related to user attitudes and characteristics, and social and…

A survey of the users of an online computer-mediated matchmaking service showed that their communication patterns and objectives varied by their sex, shyness level, and appearance. Intrinsic aspects of this system helped some users overcome relationship-initiation barriers rooted in sex role, shyness, and appearance inhibitions. (Author)