This study examined the organizational structures for professional staff participation in decision making at selected university libraries with membership in the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, and determined the perceived degree, quality, and effectiveness of staff participation. Twenty-two library directors and 192 professional…

Traditionally, libraries have had a role of providing equitable access for those who might not otherwise have access, and this role continues today in implementing access to electronic resources. However, there are special problems in applying this mission to prison libraries. A short history of automation in prison libraries is followed by a…

Since 1954 when Congress authorized the Copyright Office to prepare a series of studies to serve as background for revision hearings, copyright has been one of the major issues in librarianship. Although the impact that the New Copyright Law will have on interlibrary loan activity is yet to be determined, there is a need to know whether present…

Academic library members of the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET) responded to a computer library network effectiveness questionnaire to determine the extent to which actual network performance, as perceived by users, is consistent with expected performance. The study evaluated the technological system in terms of outputs and implications for…

This paper reports on a study conducted to determine if staffing changes were necessary at the information desk at the main branch of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library (Ohio). Questions addressed included: (1) What times are busiest in the library? (2) Should there be changes in staffing the reference desk that could lead to…

A general methodology for cost effectiveness analysis was developed and applied to the Colorado State University library loan desk. The cost effectiveness of the existing semi-automated circulation system was compared with that of a fully manual one, based on the existing manual subsystem. Faculty users' time and computer operating costs were…

This study evaluated the circulation of videotapes at three branches of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (Ohio). The study focused on what types of videotapes patrons were most likely to check out; the categories examined included fiction, nonfiction, and children's videotapes. Data were gathered for a one-week period, and a…

Usable data relating to six elements of job satisfaction: work, supervision, people, pay, promotion, and total satisfaction, were collected from 190 of a total sample of 310 librarians, chosen by stratified random sampling techniques from library association membership lists. The librarians, both male and female, represented three types of…

This paper reports on a study in which data on audiobook borrowers' backgrounds, borrowing practices, and desires were collected, in order to assist library staff in making informed collection development decisions and being responsive to patron needs. Participants were patrons of the Salem Public Library (Ohio). An anonymous questionnaire was…

A study was conducted at the University of Denver to compare the effectiveness of microfiche as opposed to textbooks, photocopying, or reserve room reading for a library science reading assignment. Assigned material was copied on microfiche and given to each student. The results were measured by analyzing data gathered using student diaries,…

This paper reports on a study conducted to determine if PowerPoint presentation is the most effective medium to explain two reference books: "The Storyteller's Sourcebook" and "A Guide to Folktales in the English Language." A secondary purpose was to see if the students who saw the PowerPoint presentation received higher…

This study examines the reliability of article coverage in the American Theological Library Association's (ATLA) Religion Database CD-ROM of two emerging theological fields: lesbian theology and womanist theology. Indexing predictability and consistency of coverage is important for the access of needed documents. There is concern that women's…

This paper reports on a research project that evaluates the impact of OhioLINK's resource sharing options upon traditional interlibrary loan services and organization. This impact is documented by a study of the interlibrary loan transactions processed by the Interlibrary Loan Department, Carlson Library, University of Toledo, before and after…

The purpose of this study was to find out to what extent K-12 fiction and nonfiction books about and for hearing impaired children and adolescents are included in the collections of the seven public libraries in Franklin County, Ohio. Two core bibliographies were compiled through content analysis of selective bibliographic sources. Via dial-up…