Describes a low cost study of the transaction logs of an online catalog at an academic library that examined failure rates, usage patterns, and probable causes of patron problems. The implications of the findings for bibliographic instruction and collection development are discussed and the benefits of analyzing transaction logs are identified.…

Identifies the optimal goal of knowledge workstations as the harmony of technology and human decision-making behaviors. Two types of decision-making processes are described and the application of each type to experimental and/or operational situations is discussed. Suggestions for technical solutions to machine-user interfaces are then offered.…

The campus library is no longer a self-sufficient repository of publications and information. Only well-organized library networks will be able to manage the expanding amounts of information that modern technological systems are already generating. However, collaborative collection development has been slow because it challenges the traditional…

Briefly reviews the development of Chinese library schools and describes the management and evaluation of library school faculty. The discussion covers problems with the current system and suggestions for improvements. A directory of departments of library and information science in China is included. (21 references) (CLB)

This study compared the levels and types of errors found in an existing card catalog and a newly created online catalog. It was found that the online catalog was more accurate and presented fewer problems for users. The implications for retrospective conversion and nonconverted records are discussed. (eight references) (CLB)

Describes a study that examined the appropriateness of database selection by patrons using CD-ROM. The findings discussed include the effect of search experience on appropriate database selection, whether the database used affected search strategies, and patrons' opinions about the need for training and the success of the searches. (three…

Discussion of online public access catalogs focuses on a study that evaluated 3 different systems in Great Britain. Comparative evaluations were made using structured exercises to determine searching techniques and transaction logs to investigate user behavior. Comments on future research are also given. (12 references) (LRW)

Surveys four possible types of multimedia computer systems: hypermedia, multimedia database, multimedia message, and virtual reality systems. The potential use of multimedia computer systems as public access systems in libraries is discussed, including fiscal, legal, organizational, standardization, and technological challenges that would have to…

Describes dominant political trends in librarianship, including the adoption of political neutrality as a means toward acquiring professional status, conservatism, and a willingness to allow government and business to define professional roles. It is argued that values of equity and public service, not the imperatives of technocracy and…

Describes a study that examined patron response to and success in using bibliographic databases on CD-ROM. Perceived needs for training and satisfaction with the system were measured by asking patrons about ease of use, search success, their need for assistance, and preferences for CD-ROM or print research tools. The questionnaire used is…

Describes the historical use of assessment centers as staff development and promotional tools and their current use in personnel selection. The elements that constitute a true assessment center are outlined, and a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages for employers and applicants focuses on positions in library administration. (10…

Examines trends in authorship, reference practices, and quantitative techniques in "College and Research Libraries" from 1939 through 1988. Specific characteristics discussed include: percentages of unreferenced articles; average number of references per article; sex and institution of source authors; extent of collaborative authorship;…

Describes an analysis of the involvement of faculty in library and information studies education in the Special Libraries Association (SLA) over the past five years. The activity of faculty in SLA is compared to the activities of SLA members in library schools, and the proper role of faculty in professional associations is discussed. (seven…

Suggests possible uses historians can make of film materials drawing on the Cooper Library (University of South Carolina) collection. Stresses the need for using outtakes to show an accurate sense of unedited history. Illustrates the value of film in understanding European fascism, and urges coordinating textbooks and film for an effective…

Describes a project at the British Architectural Library to automate all of its systems into one integrated database, maintaining the specific requirements of the architectural curator while introducing systems and standards accepted by the librarian. The discussion covers the methods used to achieve a link between objects and documentation. (CLB)