Academic

 A 1964-67 study of northern California university, 4-year college, and 2-year college libraries (including 1 Oregon library) showed thatthe 3 aspects of the physical library environment that 1,112 students at 16 institutions most often rated as needing improvement were snack facilities (53%), number of carrels (44%), and quietness (44%).                     (Source)

 A 1967 survey by the Institute of Higher Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, of innovative programs in libraries in academic institutions with liberal arts programs (sample size: 1,193; responding 781 or 65%) showed that578 (74%) of responding libraries had copying machines, of which 476 (61%) libraries reported having them only since 1961. 32 libraries (4%) were planning to make copying machines available at the time of the study. 330 (42%) libraries reported the presence of reader-printers, and an additional 134 (17%) reported plans to install reader-printers at the time of the study.           (Source)

 A 1978 survey of academic law libraries concerning the issue of faculty libraries (a separate collection or library set aside for the use of the law faculty) (survey size: 169 libraries; responding: 115 or 68.0%) showed that 16 (22.9%) respondents allowed student access to the faculty library, while 54 (77.1%) did not. Further, 41 (58.6%) respondents reported that the faculty library was not set up as a reading room only. “Many of these facilities have kitchens within the faculty library,” while 12 (17.1%) respondents reported carrels located in the faculty library.               (Source)

 A 1979 survey of libraries in accredited North American veterinary schools (population: 25 libraries; responding: 23 or 92%) showed thatall respondents reported that online search services were available. 10 (43.5%) libraries reported they had their own terminals, 22 (95.7%) reported direct or indirect access to the National Library of Medicine data bases and 19 (82.6%) reported access to Lockheed or Systems Development Corporation data bases.                 (Source)

 A 1981 survey of U.S. depository libraries, both academic and public (sample size: 221; responding: 171 or 77%) concerning their use of online data bases (DIALOG, ORBIT and BRS) particularly with regard to government documents showed that35% of the academic libraries and 65% of the public libraries did not have online terminals in the library.                (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatthe two main reasons academic depository librarians reported for not doing online searching were that other librarians do online data base searching (53%), and that no terminals were available (35%); while the two main reasons public depository librarians reported for not doing online searching were no terminals (60%) and no money available (38%).     (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatthe top 3 reasons given by respondents for not ordering government documents microfiche as the result of an online search were: library does not have computer terminals (academic depositories, 33%; public depositories, 59%), didn’t know that microfiche government documents could be ordered online (academic depositories, 24%; public depositories, 25%) and prefer hard copy to microfiche copy (academic depositories, 27%; public depositories, 20%).            (Source)

 Public

A 1981 survey of U.S. depository libraries, both academic and public (sample size: 221; responding: 171 or 77%), concerning their use of online data bases (DIALOG, ORBIT, and BRS), particularly with regard to government documents showed that35% of the academic libraries and 65% of the public libraries did not have online terminals in the library.                (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatthe 2 main reasons academic depository librarians reported for not doing online searching were that other librarians do online data base searching (53%), and that no terminals were available (35%); while the two main reasons public depository librarians reported for not doing online searching were no terminals (60%) and no money available (38%).       (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatthe top 3 reasons given by respondents for not ordering government documents microfiche as the result of an online search were: library does not have computer terminals (academic depositories, 33%; public depositories, 59%), didn’t know that microfiche government documents could be ordered online (academic depositories, 24%; public depositories, 25%) and prefer hard copy to microfiche copy (academic depositories, 27%; public depositories, 20%).               (Source)

 Special

 A 1978 survey of academic law libraries concerning the issue of faculty libraries (a separate collection or library set aside for the use of the law faculty) (survey size: 169 libraries; responding: 115 or 68.0%) showed that16 (22.9%) respondents allowed student access to the faculty library, while 54 (77.1%) did not. Further, 41 (58.6%) respondents reported that the faculty library was not set up as a reading room only. “Many of these facilities have kitchens within the faculty library,” while 12 (17.1%) respondents reported carrels located in the faculty library.               (Source)

 A study reported in 1978 of LEXIS subscribers in 4 different cities (Cleveland. Chicago. New York City and Washington. D.C.) (sample size: 62; responding: 39; usable: 38 or 61.3%) involving 35 law firms, 2 law schools and 1 government agency showed that31 (81.6%) of the respondents had 1 LEXIS terminal, 6 (15.8%) had 2 LEXIS terminals, and 1 (2.6%) had more than 2 LEXIS terminals.                     (Source)

        Ibid…. showed that15 (39.5%) respondents had had a LEXIS terminal for more than 2 years, 11 (28.9%) had had such a terminal for 1-2 years, 8 (21.1%) had had one for 1/2 to 1 year, and 4 (10.5%) had had one for less than 1/2 year.                   (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatof 41 terminals, 32 (78.1%) were located in the library or adjacent office, 1 (2.4%) was located in the librarian’s office, 6 (14.6%) were located in an assigned office and 2 (4.9%) were located in branch offices.                    (Source)

 A 1979 survey of libraries in accredited North American veterinary schools (population: 25 libraries; responding: 23 or 92%) showed thatall respondents reported that online search services were available. 10 (43.5%) libraries reported they had their own terminals, 22 (95.7%) reported direct or indirect access to the National Library of Medicine data bases and 19 (82.6%) reported access to Lockheed or Systems Development Corporation data bases.                 (Source)

Dr. David Kohl

 "Libraries in the digital age are experiencing the most profound transformation since ancient Mesopotamian scribes first began gathering and organizing cuneiform tablets."

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