A study of rural Indian villages was undertaken to determine the availability of agricultural publications and the extent of use by farmers. Low utilization was related to illiteracy, inaccessibility of villages, and lack of government and university extension activity. Recommendations included increasing the publication and distribution of farm…

A study of patron use of the University of Illinois online circulation system (LCS) found that 56 percent of original known item searches and 86 percent of location searches were successful, and that graduate students use the system very differently from the way undergraduates use it. (FM)

Examines notion of algorithms and describes variety of roles they take in educational endeavors. Problems in their development and application are explored, and implications for future use and research are presented. References are included. (BK)

A study on the use and effectiveness of marketing in postsecondary admissions is discussed. The study shows that only 8 of 16 marketing techniques were used by more than half of the respondents. The broader scheme of marketing is seen as not having been put to use fully by admissions officers. (MLW)

Fee, sociodemographic, and provider characteristics contributed little unique variance to explaining the volume of services used. Clinical considerations were, as predicted, most important in explaining service utilization. Implications for national health insurance are also discussed, since public third-party reimbursement did not lead to…

The findings of a bibliometric survey of research papers published in 39 core journals of librarianship provide information on study methodologies, growth of the research literature, organizations studied, computer-based operations, users, and major themes of library research. (CHC)

Identifies four "types" of newspaper readers. Suggests ways editors can attract these readers. (RL)

Exploring the use and effectiveness of current awareness (CA) methods, especially selective dissemination of information (SDI) among chemists at Canadian universities, this study focuses on the perceived dispersal of information, use of various CA methods, time spent on CA, perceived success in CA, and CA efficiency. (FM)

Characteristics of institutions participating in the Mental Health Annual Program Survey are reported. (JD)

Presents a use study of library materials to emphasize the need for an "access" philosophy of providing library service. Other topics considered in this "forecast" include resource-sharing library networks, network topologies, and library and network functions. (Author/JD)

Presents the results of a study to measure library materials use and cost at the University of Pittsburgh, the errors and inaccuracies encountered in the study, and the responses of faculty members and University librarians to the findings. (CWM)

Storage and financial considerations prompted a reshelving study of 300 scientific review titles which found that about half of all titles at Pennsylvania State University were used at least once and that periodicals were used more often than monograph series. As a result, periodical titles were incorporated into the journal collection and series…

The expansion of the commercial Internet has encouraged the interpretation of the Internet and its uses as a potential marketing medium. Examines statistical and demographic information about the Internet including number of Internet hosts and World Wide Web servers, and estimates of Internet users; and raises questions about definitions and…

Examines the creation of the Internet Public Library Reference Division in the historical context of librarians' efforts to integrate the use of technologies with reference services. Discussion considers ways that librarians have successfully incorporated new technologies and makes recommendations for use of the Reference Division and Internet…

It is often presumed that software technology will increase group productivity, but this may not be the case. Examines the impact of technology on time-to-complete-task, member satisfaction, perceived information load, number of contributing transactions, and task complexity. Three appendices provide examples of complex and simple tasks and the…