This investigation of a methodology for evaluating the reference effectiveness of academic libraries in New South Wales tests the answering of questions with a set of 10 questions seeking general background information on a range of topics. Student volunteers pose the questions by unobtrusive methods to reference staff at three college libraries.…

Reports the results of a survey of 50 academic libraries that have Kurzweil Reading Machines and discusses librarians' responses to both factual and opinion questions about use of the machines. The questionnaire used in the survey is included. (Author/CLB)

This article reviews major contributions to participatory management theory (formal involvement of people besides administrators in the governance of an institution of which they are a part); examines the arguments of library proponents and critics of the theory; and draws conclusions about its application in libraries. Thirty-one references are…

Ten law librarians, at one private and three academic law libraries, were studied to ascertain what types of reference services they provide to their patrons. The current model employed in public libraries today was used as the baseline against which to measure these legal reference services. This model employs five traditional categories of:…

A majority of the 267 academic librarians who responded to this survey indicated their preference for a system of academic status recognizing the unique nature of the responsibilities of librarians rather than the traditional research and publishing, while providing similar benefits of job security and advancement. Fourteen references are listed.…

Presents a study of utilization of student employees at Bowling Green State University Library and the development of an allocation formula to provide proportional funding to tasks prioritized by relative operational importance. The study further produced an objective basis for reallocating resources from less essential to more essential tasks.…

Reviews major topics involved in governance of academic libraries in a rapidly changing environment: (1) the academic environment and the library--organizational characteristics of both institutions; (2) academic governance patterns; (3) librarians and governance--faculty status, faculty status and governance, unions and governance, modifying the…

In a study of library use and research behavior, 91 undergraduate and 68 graduate business students at California State University San Marcos were surveyed and observed for query formulation and task assignments, prereference process expectations, and postreference process responses. Findings support past research by pointing to user impatience…

Academic library managers need a multimethod, objective, valid tool for measuring service quality. Examines three research studies in the measurement of service quality in Australian and New Zealand academic libraries: the Hernon and Altman Study; Hernon and Calvert Study; and the University of Waikato (Hamilton, New Zealand) Survey, a two-stage…

Many libraries have noise problems that can't be fixed with ceiling and carpet treatments, physical arrangement, or sound barriers. This study at Henderson Community College (Henderson KY) attempted to confirm results from an earlier study suggesting that reducing light levels led to reduced noise. The data showed mixed results, but overall the…

Addresses issues of access and policy in developing Web-based interactive reference services via academic library home pages. Discusses results of a national survey that showed that less than half of surveyed institutions use Web-based interactive reference as an extension of traditional reference services. Tables include findings. (Author/LRW)

Discusses academic library instruction and describes a study using the IDNA (Instructional Development Needs Assessment) survey where librarians at Penn State rated teaching tasks based on their assessment of task difficulty, importance in the learning process, and frequency of performance. Produced a prioritized list of instructional development…

Proposes a new model for an academic chemistry library based on experiences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in which primary access to journals is electronic and print journals are archived unbound in a remote storage facility following local access for one year. Discusses results of a feasibility study. (Author/LRW)

Describes a study at Ball State University (Indiana) that compared local pre-cataloging authority control procedures with post-cataloging authority control procedures available through NOTIS (Northwestern Online Total Integrated System). Results show NOTIS authority control reduced redundancy and increased efficiency. Contains three tables and…

Examines questions related to service quality, satisfaction, and outcomes assessment in academic libraries. Relates the literature of library and information science to each concept, identifies major research methodologies used, and offers suggestions for future research. (Contains 65 references.) (Author/LRW)