Use Of Library Collections Research Articles

International students' use of a library's media collection

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential benefits to international students provided by the library's foreign films collection at a mid-sized, rural, public university. The literature on international students shows that they often find library services intimidating. However, there is very little literature on the relationship between international students and their use of library collections. Interviews were conducted with international students new to the university, seeking to determine if providing familiar films eases students' transition and acculturation. Although circulation data show that the foreign films are popular, interviews with international students indicated preference for American films to gain cultural confidence.

Starting From Ground Zero: Establishing a Collection for a New Doctoral Program

This article reports a librarian's collection development efforts to support her institution's first independent doctoral degree (Ed.D., Educational Leadership) via a citation analysis comparing information usage by education doctorate dissertation authors from six peer institutions nationally. This analysis is part of a long-term examination of library collection use among California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) doctoral students. Key findings include the relative young age among the information resources in educational leadership, which resource formats were cited, what serial titles were cited the most, and where they are available electronically. The ultimate aim is the creation of an essential collection in the subject discipline.

The OhioLINK OCLC Collection Analysis Project: A Preliminary Report

ABSTRACT The article will describe the plans and work to date on the OCLC Research Office and OhioLINK's joint project to analyze use data from Ohio college and university libraries. The project will create a repository of data about the circulation of monographs that can be correlated against such data points as subject, age of material, location and publisher. One of the goals of the study is to investigate whether there has been a shift in the general patterns of use of library collections in a situation where libraries have instituted patron-initiated borrowing from one another. The project is similar to a study that the OCLC Research Office did with the University of Colorado, Boulder, but on a larger scale and with the addition of information about monographs that do not circulate. An article about that study appeared in the January 2006 issue of College and Research Libraries.

A comparison of OpenURL link resolvers

AbstractOpen URL link resolvers are emerging technological tools designed to increase use of library collections by automating the process of locating and accessing library holdings. This study examines the system architecture and capabilities of commercially available OpenURL link resolvers to assess viable options for the University of Connecticut Libraries. Data for the study, largely experiential feedback received from libraries employing OpenURL link resolvers, were gathered through a series of evaluative activities. These included a preliminary literature review, Web survey, follow-up e-mail survey, and on-site visits to libraries. Results were analyzed within the context of the University of Connecticut Libraries' resources and needs. Analysis revealed wide variation in library experiences with and perception of product functionality and performance, as well as requisite staff and financial investments.

A comparison of OpenURL link resolvers: The results of a University of Connecticut Libraries environmental scan

Open URL link resolvers are emerging technological tools designed to increase use of library collections by automating the process of locating and accessing library holdings. This study examines the system architecture and capabilities of commercially available OpenURL link resolvers to assess viable options for the University of Connecticut Libraries. Data for the study, largely experiential feedback received from libraries employing OpenURL link resolvers, were gathered through a series of evaluative activities. These included a preliminary literature review, Web survey, follow-up e-mail survey, and on-site visits to libraries. Results were analyzed within the context of the University of Connecticut Libraries' resources and needs. Analysis revealed wide variation in library experiences with and perception of product functionality and performance, as well as requisite staff and financial investments.

Collection evaluation through citation analysis techniques: a case study of the Ministry of Education, Singapore

Knowing how the library’s collection is being used and how patrons are feeling about its collection are important for the evaluation of the library collection. The former can be measured by conducting library collection use studies and the latter through a user survey method. Another method is to check library holdings against standard bibliographies. The citation analysis technique was chosen to evaluate the collection of the Ministry of Education library, Singapore. Results were counter checked with ILL data analysis results. Books were the most cited (96 per cent) resources followed by journal articles (1.5 per cent) and 69 per cent of the citations were published between 1980‐1994. The library had only 20 per cent of the citations and the rest were supplied through ILL. Results show a need for a change in acquisition policy with more focus on books, reduction in non‐used journals, and development of an efficient ILL.

How and Why Libraries are Changing: What We Know and What We Need to Know

In November 2000, the Digital Library Federation (DLF) and the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) commissioned a white paper to initiate discussion of how and why libraries are changing. Eight academic library directors met with representatives from the DLF and CLIR in March 2001 to discuss the issues. The outcome of this meeting was a proposal to conduct research that will begin to fill significant gaps in our understanding and to better position libraries to meet the needs and expectations of academic users and university and college administrators. The white paper and the forthcoming research should be of interest to anyone trying to cope with or make sense of transformational change in academic libraries. To reach a broader audience, the white paper has been revised and updated for publication in portal: Libraries and the Academy. The article examines the importance of understanding how and why libraries are changing, analyzes the limitations and difficulties of traditional library performance measures, and explores environmental factors that may help account for why library use is changing. It concludes with an overview of research designed to develop an understanding of how user behavior and preferences affect demand for and use of library collections, services, and facilities, and a call to contribute conscientiously to the legacy of academic libraries and librarianship.

The Myth of "Obsolescence": the Monograph in the Digital Library

This article will attempt to address some traditional assumptions librarians have made about the use of monographic collections. In the course of exploring these assumptions, a more subtly nuanced articulation of library collection use may emerge, which could lead to a new appreciation of the need to ensure that information access is designed specifically to support a wide variety of uses.

Users’ awareness and use of science and technology collections at the University of Science and Technology (UST) libraries

Reports results of a survey, undertaken by the University of Science and Technology, Ghana (UST), to determine the extent to which students, lecturers and research follows are aware and make use of the science and technology collections. Tests the hypothesis that maximum use is limited by lack of awareness of some of the available collections. A set of questionnaires were administered to 582 (12.1%) out of 4846 students pursuing science and technology related courses, another to 60 lecturers and research fellows in the science and technology faculties and a third to the librarians concerned. The University Librarian was also interviewed. Result: 24.9% of students and 7.4% of lecturers and research fellows were not aware of some available collections relevant to their studies, teaching and research. In addition, 21.6% of the students and 14.8% of lecturers and research fellows did not use the libraries at all. Reviews the factors affecting awareness and use of library collections: competence in library use skills; library promotion strategies; current awareness services; and attitudes towards users by library staff. Presents a comprehensive range of recommendations to improve user awareness, including a well planned library training programme; better shelf labelling; and automation of library functions.

Thesis and Dissertation Citations as Indicators of Faculty Research Use of University Library Journal Collections

Citation analysis is a long-standing collection-evaluation tool often undertaken to investigate one aspect of library collection use. Citations from theses and dissertations are much more easily and comprehensively gathered than are citations voluntarily supplied by faculty. Using four studies in geology and biology, the Kendall coefficient of rank correlation tests the degree of association between journals most heavily cited by graduate students and those titles most heavily cited in faculty publications. Positive associations are confirmed in three data sets. Additional descriptive analysis shows that the 40 titles most heavily cited in theses and dissertations consistently contained about 70% of the top 40 titles cited by faculty, including most of the 12-15 top titles, If results are replicated, thesis and dissertation citations can be reliably used as a surrogate for faculty publication citations in evaluations of the research portion of library collection use.

Undergraduate Term Paper Citation Patterns by Disciplines and Level of Course

The investigators collected 1775 term papers and projects from students at four institutions: East Texas Baptist University, Oregon State University, Texas A&M University, and Westmar Colege. Undergraduate students did make extensive use of library collections. Use varied by disciplines: the percentage of books to journals almost exactly reverses from the humanities (68% books/19% journals) to the sciences (21% books/65% journals). The social sciences used 57% books and 33% journals. Use of other types of information, such as citations, was fairly constant at 10- 14%. The average number of citations appears to increase from sophomore to junior to senior levels, but differences among disciplines obscure this result.

An Evaluation of Current Collection Utilization Methodologies and Findings

A recent evaluation of current research indicates that the use of libraries cannot be compared; but, the use of library collections can be compared if the objectives for the collections are the same. The reasoning behind this thesis is provided along with an evaluation of current collection utilization methodologies and findings. A set of variables that are to be accounted for in comparative studies is also provided.

国立がんセンター図書館における資料利用の動向とその理由

国立がんセンター図書館における資料利用の動向とその理由