Addresses the utility of classification in both current and future library applications and demonstrates the role librarians can play in enhancing public access to information available on the Internet. Reports on a survey of current trends in classification of electronic titles based on catalogs of members of the Association of Research…

Database usage from a random sample of academic and public libraries in the United States and Canada reveals patterns of use in selected types of libraries. Nine tables present usage statistics. Factors that influence database use are briefly discussed. (AEF)

Traditionally, several types of library in Australia have been perceived as having a "research" role, notably the National Library, the state libraries, and the university libraries, together with a few special libraries serving research-producing organisations such as the CSIRO. This paper provides some speculations on how some…

In many ways, science classrooms and school library media centers are parallel universes struggling with their own reform issues and with documenting their own positive impacts. As the trend toward data-driven decisions grows in the school setting, it is increasingly important for every component of the learning environment to have demonstrable…

This pamphlet summarizes the results of a national survey funded by the U.S. Department of Education which asked Americans how they perceived the role of the public library in their lives. Those surveyed included a cross section of the national population, minority groups, and community opinion leaders. Most of those surveyed regard public…

Based on the concept that library use measurement should have as its basic starting point the individual patron, a method of data collection and analysis has been developed that explores individual patterns of borrowing over time. The method accounts for the number of visits on which borrowing takes place, number of items borrowed per visit, and…

Describes and discusses an experiment in the teaching of social sciences bibliography which focuses on the scholarly research process and involves the students directly in the research activities and bibliographic requirements of individual scholars. (Author/LS)

This paper, presented at the Indiana Library Association Meeting, discusses critical thinking in general terms and then briefly discusses why it is important to include critical thinking skills in bibliographic instruction sessions at the higher education level. A discussion of the instructional design of bibliographic instruction in relation to…

An online catalog was introduced at Georgia State University in September 1985. Prior to its introduction, a study was conducted at Pullen Library to prepare for bibliographic instruction for catalog use. In the summer of 1985, 50 patrons were observed and interviewed as they used the library's card and/or computer output microfiche (COM)…

In the summer of 1984, seven Library of Congress subclasses in the Columbia-Greene Community College Library were surveyed to determine if past circulation records could reliably predict future circulation. In the summer of 1985, a follow-up study surveyed 10 Library of Congress subclasses to verify the results of the first study. The second…

This examination of the use of local area networks (LANs) by libraries summarizes the findings of a nationwide survey of 600 libraries and information centers and 200 microcomputer networking system manufacturers and vendors, which was conducted to determine the relevance of currently available networking systems for library and information center…

As a continuation of research into online public access catalog systems (OPAC's), this study focused on the actual use of OPAC's and on refinement of the methodologies used in carrying out transaction analysis studies. Current patron use patterns were obtained via machine-readable catalogs from four online public catalog systems: The Library of…

This document contains validated activities and competencies needed by librarians working in a public library. The activities and competencies are organized according to the functions which public librarians perform: acquisitions; cataloging; circulation and reader services; collection maintenance; interlibrary loan; management; reference; and…

This document contains validated activities and competencies needed by librarians working in a special library. The activities and competencies are organized according to the functions which special librarians perform: acquisitions; cataloging; circulation and user services; collection maintenance; interlibrary loan; management; reference; and…

This document contains validated activities and competencies needed by librarians working in a database distributor/service organization. The activities of professionals working in database distributor/service organizations are listed by function: Database Processing; Customer Support; System Administration; and Planning. The competencies are…