Libraries have become increasingly interested in studying the use of spaces within their buildings. Traditional methods for tracking library building use, such as gate counts, provide little information on what patrons do once they are in the library; therefore, new methods for studying space usage are being developed. Particularly promising are…

Reports results of a comparison of the Academic Index on CD-ROM and four indexes on the OPAC (online public access catalog) at Brooklyn College (New York): General Science Index, Humanities Index, Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, and Social Science Index. Coverage of the "New York Times" was found to be important. (LRW)

In order to ascertain what data elements should commonly be considered in the development of a meaningful procedure for recording and analyzing library reference transaction data for planning purposes, a comparison was made between the development, use, and results of surveys designed and tested at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the…

An ongoing, multiphased project to measure and reduce book loss due to theft was instituted in the main library at the University of Kentucky. Though book loss was significantly reduced, the issue of whether an electronic security system is more effective than a manual checking procedure remains unresolved. (6 references) (EJS)

This fact book is a summary of current data about Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) and represents a compilation of historical data for a 5- to 10-year period as well as comparative data, both national and statewide. It is composed of seven sections that include information about enrollment, student characteristics, academic…

Reports differences in results for two use studies conducted in a science and engineering library, one using a reshelving methodology, the other requiring users to self-report material use. Differences are reported in terms of high-use periodicals, overall materials use, and use of the entire journal collection. (13 references) (KRN)

Behavior of patrons choosing between a person sitting at a counter and one sitting at a desk at each of two reference points was observed at the reference department during remodeling at the M. D. Anderson Library of the University of Houston. Results showed a statistically relevant preference for the counter. (Author/JD)

Compares the compact disc read-only-memory (CD-ROM) Magazine Article Summaries (MAS) and Magazine Index Plus Backfile (MI+) in terms of system hardware, index coverage, searching capabilities, citation display, printing citations, local holdings, and miscellaneous features and costs. Finds in favor of MAS. (DMM)

In 1990, the Online Catalog Advisory Committee (OCAC) of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) charged a subcommittee with developing and implementing ways to measure the impact of the expanded online catalog on staff, users, collections, and library operations. The UIUC's online public access catalog, ILLINET (Illinois Library and…

A cost-effectiveness analysis evaluating manual and automated circulation systems is described. The methodology identifies all automation costs and real changes in effectiveness. (Author/KP)

Comparisons and advantages of using a printer versus on line cataloging are presented, with statistics of title percentage from search procedures. (Author/KP)

Questions related to the expansion of online bibliographic searching at the University of Wisconsin-Stout are examined. A brief review of the literature on why libraries search online is followed by a discussion of the specific situation at Stout where the ERIC data base is the only online service currently used. The variety of online data bases…

This description of the automated acquisitions system used by Knox College Library provides a history of its development and compares the system to the OCLC Acquisitions Subsystem. The system's chief management tool--a dealer report and several permutations (sorts by publisher and fund)--is discussed. Six references are cited. (EJS)

Concludes that most college libraries do not meet ACRL standards criteria for collection size, development, staff, and budget. This study is based on data obtained from the 1977 Higher Education General Information Surveys by the National Center for Education Statistics. References are provided. (RAA)

Data from 44 respondents in a survey of the 50 largest academic members of the Association of Research Libraries and the four largest black university libraries are analyzed in this report on reference services. Included in the analysis are data on reference and directional transactions collected by the fall 1976 LIBGIS survey for the institutions…