Based on statistical data submitted by almost 3,000 academic libraries as part of the 1978-1979 Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS), this report develops a composite profile of an academic research library. Use of cluster analysis of library characteristics to find institutions that were quantitatively similar to one another…

This 1980 survey of 3,356 users of the Georgia State University library gathered data on user affiliation, library usage, frequency of usage, perceptions of library adequacy, usage by field of study, and user residential patterns. It was found that over half of the users are undergraduates, 29 percent are graduate students, and 14 percent are not…

The current formula for staffing libraries and resource centers in Virginia public institutions of higher learning was examined by a subcommittee of library directors. Questionnaires were mailed to relevant institutions to collect information regarding: (1) input variables; (2) staffing needs as perceived by the directors of the institutions; and…

Discusses types of knowledge that should define the academic librarian: (1) background in history and development of higher education; (2) appreciation for history of scholarship and learning; (3) understanding of how knowledge is obtained in various disciplines; (4) ability to evaluate research findings. Three reactions to essay are included.…

A survey at the University at Albany (New York) on user satisfaction with reference services gathered information on behavioral characteristics of librarians: interest, confidence, friendliness, and enthusiasm, as well as on patron comfort and overall satisfaction. Analysis of the data (n=100) indicates that user satisfaction depends on more than…

Discusses results of a Web survey on the use of Spanish language subject headings in local academic library catalogs. Indicates that, while few libraries assign such headings locally, many retain and display them in the catalog when they are provided through copy cataloging records. (Author/LRW)

Describes the faculty-librarian collaboration at Towson University in the development and teaching of information literacy instruction. Findings from the faculty survey and information literacy instruction statistics indicated that this close collaboration yields a seamless blend of core subject information and information seeking/evaluation…

Discusses the amount of instruction that is part of reference service, based on experiences with the University of New Brunswick's LIVE (Library Information in a Virtual Environment) digital reference service. Concludes that digital reference instruction is not a substitute for more formal library instruction programs that include information…

Describes a study that measured the subject area and call number correspondence for the discipline of history at the Texas A&M University libraries. Considers the rise in interdisciplinary scholarship that challenges the frequent assumption that a correlation exists between topicality and call number range for collection management decisions.…

Reviews the literature on library use of facsimile transmission and describes an experiment conducted by libraries at the four State University of New York campuses that used facsimile transmission and/or electronic mail to access commonly held periodical titles. Copies of the request form and problem report form are appended. (Contains 29…

Presents and compares results from two surveys of basic library skills administered to first-year and upperclass students at Johns Hopkins University (Maryland). The relationship of test scores to library visits and to self-ratings for library skills are discussed, and copies of the surveys are included. (Contains 12 references.) (LRW)

Reviews research on impact assessment of libraries and considers potentially useful methodologies for measuring the impact of university libraries, i.e., how library use affects students' academic performance. Topics discussed include categories of library use, purposes of library use, and indicators of library impact. The user panel methodology…

This symposium report includes seven papers that address issues concerning the North American Collections Inventory Project (NCIP) Conspectus sponsored by the Research Libraries Group (RLG). Topics discussed include cooperative collection development; rigor and research in library and information science; decision making and uncertainty; and data…

Describes the use of questionnaires and interviews for a study on the use of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Library (Nigeria) by international students. Problems faced by students are highlighted, including the language barrier, new services, and unfamiliar library terminology. (Author/LRW)

Describes a correlation method for calculating reference statistics using weekly door counts that was tested at the University of South Carolina while studying a sampling technique for collecting reference statistics. Results indicate this method may offer libraries an accurate and less time-consuming procedure for keeping reference statistics.…