Presents a research study using three data-gathering methods--interview, behavioral diary, and behavioral map--to determine the effect of library design on student behavior. The values of normative data and the methods used are discussed, and it is concluded that physical design may influence behavior and satisfaction. (CWM)

Describes PACE (Public Access Catalogue Extension), an alternative interface designed to enhance online catalogs by simulating images of books and library shelves to help users browse through the catalog. Results of a test in a college library against a text-based online public access catalog, including student attitudes, are described.…

Describes findings from a national research study about public library service to homeless children. Describes six exemplary library programs targeting homeless children and discusses characteristics and needs of young homeless children and their parents. Eight tables present statistics; the survey instrument is appended. (AEF)

This article is an annotated bibliography of research related to school library media programs found from ERIC and Dissertation Abstracts in 1996-97. Areas of research include reading, roles and relationships, intellectual freedom and social responsibilities, information literacy, staff development, and student achievement. (PEN)

Discusses international librarianship from two points of view: (1) library education that addresses the needs of the international library community; and (2) the participation of professional librarians in activities of library associations at the international level. Examines research in the field of librarianship and describes selected…

Describes a study that asked undergraduates to list three personally memorable incidents concerning library use in order to understand the human experience of libraries and implications this understanding has for library use and service, education, and design. Discusses results of content analysis, phenomenological analysis, and grade levels at…

Three fundamental problems underlie most research in health sciences librarianship: determining what therapies are effective and of good quality, delivering information when and where it is needed, and in forms that will increase its use. Developments in health information research will be advanced through collaboration across disciplines and…

Describes results of a survey of secondary school libraries in Israel that was conducted in 1983-84. Library characteristics related to type of community and type of school are described, including size of collection, hours of operation, and librarians' qualifications. School library use is also discussed. (six references) (LRW)

Identifies and discusses characteristics of effective in-house studies in public libraries. Characteristics discussed include clearly stated research questions, translation into measurable terms, study design, staff training, data analysis, and targeted reporting. It is argued that studies done within existing management and communication…

Discusses the potential for increasing library effectiveness through the appropriate design and utilization of research and describes fundamental research and statistical techniques. Topics examined include areas amenable to data collection, data collection methods amenable to statistical analysis, measurement techniques and levels of…

Reviews curriculum guides and the research literature to examine locational skills instruction in elementary schools and the transferability of skills to the public library. Factors that may limit instructional effectiveness are identified and the need for public children's librarians to have realistic expectations of children's abilities to…

Abstracts describe five research projects which investigated a library-based computer-assisted writing program; high school library media specialists with exemplary programs; the impact of access to an academic library via online catalog for college bound students; transferability of library research skills from high school to college; and the…

Provides guidelines for designing an "authentic project," which is the result of an information search based on a problem-driven task; it is a library research project in which authentic content is integrated with transferable skills in a real-life context. Presents three questions for assessing student performance and learning objectives.…

Explains how working on a student newspaper provides students with real-life writing situations that make composition practice, which students usually begrudge, automatic and necessary. Reviews four aspects of putting a newspaper together: brainstorming, researching, drafting, and publishing. (TB)

Describes and discusses metanalysis and criticisms of the methodology. Reports on a pilot study which tested the feasibility of metanalytic methods in library science research using the literature on paper- or computer-based information retrieval. (28 references) (EA)