Public library effectiveness efforts are placed within the context of theoretical and empirical research on organizational effectiveness. The construct, measures, and determinants of public library effectiveness are investigated, and a possible model of the determinants of public library output measures is presented. (Author/EM)

Reports on development and operation of public library collection of video recordings, describes results of user survey conducted over 6-month period, and offers brief guidelines. Potential users, censorship and copyright, organization of collection, fees, damage and loss, funding, purchasing and promotion, formats, processing and cataloging,…

Describes a study that surveyed Iowa elementary and secondary school principals to determine computer assisted instruction (CAI) use in different grade levels and subject content areas and their opinions on importance of computer literacy/CAI awareness in teacher selection, and whether all preservice teachers should complete one computer…

Reports results of study of a group of end users (patent attorneys) doing their own online searching at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Highlights include DIALOG databases used by the attorneys, locations and searching modes, characteristics of patent attorney searchers, and problem areas. Questionnaire is appended. (5 references) (EJS)

Interviews with 50 low income family members who used two health care providers--Kaiser Health Maintenance Organization and La Clinica de La Raza--were used to study how cost, need, access, services, and culture affected choice of provider. Cultural affinity seemed to influence decisions to use and pay for La Clinica's services. (JHZ)

This exploratory study applies Mehrabian and Russell's newly formulated theory of emotion to the problem of explaining television program preference. Results suggest that emotion-eliciting qualities (pleasure, arousal, and dominance) can account for up to 43 percent of the program preference of television viewers. (PD)

Study of online searching experience in Martin P. Catherwood Library, New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, presents results of five years of collecting data on bibliographic files accessed. A ranking of 10 most frequently searched files and commentary on pattern that emerges are provided. (EJS)

Results of survey indicate that: academic faculty are unaware of range of databases available; few recognize need for databases in research; most delegate searching to librarian or assistant, rather than perform searching themselves; and 39 database guides identified tended to be descriptive rather than evaluative. A comparison of the guides is…

Report on current state of research in academic and research librarianship in Federal Republic of Germany highlights projects concerning acquisition of books; work procedure investigations; personnel requirements; cost accounting; investigations of library use (user research, user education); public relations work; librarianship; and subject…

The Study Abroad Evaluation Project is designed to examine international study and student exchange programs within Europe and between Europe and the United States to identify the most effective program characteristics. Focus is on institutional impact, student attitudes, academic performance, and employment goals and opportunities. (MSE)

Statistical examination of original cataloging records of Chicago Municipal Reference Library as input into online OCLC union catalog reveals library's cataloging use rate as compared to nationwide average. Previous studies, methodology, and areas of high and low use (year of input, type of record, classification, length of monograph) are…

A total of 120 medical schools responded to a survey about their use of written student evaluations of faculty, anonymity policy, and use of the evaluations in faculty promotion, tenure, and salary decisions. Most currently use a system of regular, anonymous evaluation by students, and its continuation is recommended. (MSE)

Reports the results of a study to determine the most frequently reviewed topics in reading research and the most frequently cited research reviews. (AEA)

Presents results of study evaluating reactions of 20 university students and faculty to first-time online database searching on the Bibliographic Retrieval Service's menu-driven BRS/After Dark. Background information on participants, search analysis and problems, end user education needs, and the role of the intermediary are discussed. Four…

Applies the economic model of utility maximization to two areas of faculty performance evaluation: (1) relationship between teaching effectiveness and research productivity and (2) validity of student evaluations of teachers. (Author/JW)