Vignettes, brief descriptions of fictional characters and situations, serve as a tool to study people's lives, perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes about specific situations. Although not widely used in library and information science (LIS) research, vignettes can depersonalize responses to controversial situations or behavioral responses related…

In this exploratory study the authors ask students enrolled in a credit-bearing undergraduate research methods course to rank and evaluate the troublesome, transformative, and integrative nature of the six frames currently comprising the "Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education." The results indicate that students have…

This study investigated the use of a university library academic service to assist in research information seeking, and the role and value of the academic services in support of research from the viewpoints of both academic users and librarians. Ten Ph.D. students completed questionnaires followed by face-to-face discussions and four academic…

Results of a survey of recruitment practices of academic librarians across the U.S. reveal that little standardization of recruitment and selection practices exists, level of participation of professional staff in recruitment procedures varies, and search committees are used but their duties and power are not well-defined. Eleven references are…

A questionnaire survey eliciting opinions of 47 university administrators (nonlibrarians) on issue of faculty status for academic librarians indicates that 23.4 percent of respondents felt that librarians were appropriately classed as faculty, while 76.6 percent believed that academic librarians were more appropriately placed in professional…

Surveys librarians in academic libraries to determine extent to which publishing is factor in obtaining tenure and/or promotion. Methodology, results of survey (faculty status, tenure, publishing as criterion for tenure and/or promotion, publishing as option), and comparison with Rayman and Goudy's study are discussed. Seven references are cited.…

A survey of 133 academic libraries reveals that most make online bibliographic retrieval services available to off-campus clients at prices higher than those charged to primary patrons. Extra charges are not inconsequential, being approximately $15/search or 38 percent of search costs. Eight references, questionnaire, and list of online vendors…

Results of a survey assessing the views of individual academic librarians on benefits and responsibilities of faculty status show that not only are the librarians themselves divided over the question, but that their views frequently differ from those of their directors. The survey questionnaire and four references are included. (Author/EJS)

Discussion of qualitative and quantitative research techniques highlights the use of focus group interviews and describes their use at Purdue University to determine student user perceptions of and attitudes toward the library system. The use of the interviews as a supplement to a questionnaire survey is discussed. (20 references) (LRW)

Results of survey of 44 academic libraries indicate that: foreign students have problems in using library; instruction for foreign students should be offered as separate program; type of instruction and degree of coordination between library and other areas on campus differs markedly. Program idea sources and 18 references are included. (EJS)

Describes responses of 19 Louisiana academic libraries to questionnaire designed to determine scope and conduct of academic online searching search services. Telecommunications networks, terminals, patrons, library search procedures, methods of charging fees, special features, selective dissemination of information, computer searching by…

Discussion of a user-driven survey conducted at the University of California, San Diego libraries focuses on the methodology that resulted in a high response rate. Highlights goals for the survey, including acceptance of data by groups outside the library and for benchmarking data; planning; user population; and questionnaire development. (LRW)

A survey of the collections of the libraries at the State University College at Buffalo (New York) was conducted to determine the physical condition of books and bound periodicals. The methodology of prior surveys at Yale (Connecticut) and Syracuse (New York) Universities was used and the following hypotheses were tested: (1) the methodology used…

Questionnaires were sent to the office of academic affairs or its equivalent in each of the 89 U.S. academic members of the Association of Research Libraries to elicit the opinions of non-library university administrators on the issue of faculty status for academic librarians. Data gathered from 32 state institutions and 15 private institutions…

Fifty-five Association of Research Libraries member academic libraries were surveyed to determine trends in use of commercially available online numeric databases. Databases searched, searchers, users, publicity, library role in relation to numeric databases, and librarians' attitudes toward and knowledge of databases are examined. The…