Reports results of a study which analyzed course syllabi at a liberal arts college and a university with graduate and professional programs to determine the type and quantity of library use required. Data are presented on percentage of courses requiring library use by department, overall use patterns, and use patterns by course level. (12…

Explores the status of 183 elementary classroom libraries in Texas. Provides suggestions on how teachers can design excellent classroom libraries. Asserts that classroom libraries can promote voluntary reading. (PRA)

Describes a study that examined three major international library science journals to investigate the nature and trends of library and information science research in Africa from 1990 through 1992. Highlights include status of authors, gender, affiliation, country, types of research, types of cited documents, subjects covered, and most cited…

Examines the application of the Fishbein and Ajzen model of attitude-behavior consistency to research in library and information science (LIS). The components of the model are explained, two examples of LIS research are presented, and there is a brief review of areas in LIS that could benefit from attitude-behavior consistency research. (Contains…

Discusses the importance of historical studies for librarians and how knowledge of the past contributes to the research base. Social science and historical perspectives on library research are considered; and hypothesis testing, the study of causality, and the history of information practices are examined. (Contains eight references.) (LRW)

Surveys users of the Journalism Library at Indiana University. Discusses frequency of usage, overall evaluation of resources and services, evaluation of resources and services by department and by status, attitude toward electronically delivered articles, and reasons for using the library. (SR)

A study was conducted at Texas A&M University that compared the intactness (i.e., the presence or absence of a bibliographic record) and the accuracy of the bibliographic data in the public card catalog and in the online catalog (ALIS II). Results indicate the online catalog was less intact, but more accurate. (two references) (LRW)

Secondary school students are not research experts; they need consistent, constructive guidance to make researching enjoyable, engaging, enriching, and meaningful. Library research too often becomes a necessary evil. Students should learn to move naturally into task definition; information seeking; location and access; and information use,…

Describes the card sort technique that was used by Cornell University to help determine how users would organize a set of concepts to be included in an online digital library help system. Presents Cornell's experiences as a case study with detailed instructions for conducting and evaluating the card sort technique. (Contains 13 references.)…

This column assesses the state of library and information studies (LIS) research. Researchers and practitioners in various LIS fields address questions related to the research front and agenda for collection development; what the field needs to advance further; whether it needs a more sophisticated conceptual or theoretical framework; operational…

Describes the process of initiating an e-mail reference service in 1995 at the Ohio State University Health Sciences Library and the growth of the service through 2000. Includes data on types of patrons who use the service; types of questions and answers; and how results have led to re-evaluating all reference services. (LRW)

Discussion of the role of cataloging education within the library profession focuses on results of a survey of members of the Association of Research Libraries that investigated the importance of cataloging competencies for all entry-level academic librarians. Discusses implications for library education for academic librarians and for the…

Describes a study conducted at Auburn University that analyzed four months of chat reference questions received at a centralized reference services desk. Discusses types of questions; types of users; whether questions were localized to the specific library's resources; and further areas of research. (Author/LRW)

Applied the Biglan model of disciplinary differences to the information-seeking behavior patterns of undergraduates responding to questions on the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ). Discusses implications for the redesign of academic library services and use of the Biglan model as a theoretical framework for future library research.…

Examines the effects of students' access to print via a community library. Compares knowledge of authors, words, books, and magazines between the students who accessed the community library and students who used the school library. Indicates that the students who visited community libraries outperformed students who did not. (SG)