Describes how experts create and use "bundles"--organized, highly selective collections of information--to help solve problems and maintain situation awareness. Based on fieldwork in an intensive care unit, five examples of bundles are described that illustrate the variety of bundles in use. A summary of bundle properties is given. (AEF)

Information needs and research systems of scientists in various disciplines. (LS)

This study on the management and use of state documents is included in the Indiana Library Studies. (Other reports in this series are available as ED 044 131 through 044 145.) Options for improvement and a plan of action for improved government documents management are given based upon studies of: (1) the present management of state documents in…

The Federal Government creates and disseminates large accounts of technical information in various forms, i.e., handbooks, manuals, guides, texts, brochures and periodicals. Much of this information is of value to the vocational-technical secondary school teacher for updating lessons and giving information which keeps pace with occupational…

The approach taken in preparing this collection of papers was to focus upon questions of an applied nature pertaining to the studies of information needs and connected with the theory of scientific information, rather than to approach the problems of user needs in information science from a purely theoretical point of view. The nine papers…

The Investigation into Information Requirements of the Social Sciences (INFROSS) was initiated in 1968 because it was feared that in the absence of knowledge about information requirements of the social sciences, solutions adopted in science, based on the findings of science user studies, would be applied to the social sciences. It is now…

Journal citations in masters theses were examined. The purpose was to develop one means of measuring the use of the collection. Additionally, the study looks at the use/cost aspect and closes by noting some of the implications of the study for more rational decision-making and inter-library cooperation. (3 references) (Author/SJ)

A plan for sampling in-library use is presented. The library is divided into a certain number of areas, and a sample of monographs within each area is selected for study. Inspection rounds are then made on each of the days of the survey period. (5 references) (Author/SJ)

Only 14 percent of 5,860 cardiovascular information papers were found in cardiovascular specialty journals. The remaining 86 percent of the literature was widely dispersed throughout 766 nonspecialty cardiovascular journals. (MF)

The utility of the federally funded National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is often unclear, and critics have claimed that NAEP is not used. This paper summarizes an exploratory study of evidence against these claims, including that data are most useful to audiences with a national perspective. (Author/CM)

Reviews results of microform user studies to reveal which computer output microfilm (COM) products are accepted and which ones are not. Impediments to use are discussed, and a list of further readings on COM is included. (SW)

Summarizes use statistics for the first year of search activity for the Kansas City Libraries Metropolitan Information Network (MINET). Included are databases searched, types of participating libraries, patron status, search systems used, charges, nonpaid searches, and referrals. (SW)

Develops a probabilistic model of the usage of an awareness-maintaining mechanism in a collaborative hypertext database system. Studies longitudinal time series data of user-database interaction. Finds that the recurring patterns in the occurrences of the awareness-seeking event were related to several contextual aspects of the Computer Supported…

Suggests that it would be a great aid to making technical information usable if technical writers could acquire superpowers on the spot by uttering an acronym formed from the characteristics of USABILITY: User-centered, Sufficient, Accurate, Brief, Instructional, Logical, Informative, Task-oriented, and You, the technical communicator. (RS)