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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Recurso educativo Open Access |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
1985
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED255224 |
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Table of Contents:
- Texas A & M University Library. A Final Report from the Public Services Research Projects. A Comparison of Two End User Operated Search Systems. One of a Series of Self-Studies and Research Projects. Dodd, Jane And Others Academic Libraries Higher Education Information Retrieval Library Administration Library Personnel Library Research Online Searching Online Systems Reference Services Research Libraries Search Strategies This report summarizes research undertaken at the Sterling C. Evans Library, Texas A & M University to assess the impact that end user information retrieval systems may have on library staff and users. Two systems, BRS/After Dark and Search Helper, were made available in the library for end user searching at no cost. A total of 260 users searched BRS/After Dark and 126 people used Search Helper. Questionnaires administered to both users and library personnel gathered data on problems experienced, levels of satisfaction, and staff assistance required. It was found that library users could successfully search both end user services with minimal instruction. The low average costs of the end user searches suggest opportunities for libraries to provide this type of online access to users at either no charge or at very modest fees. Although end user services were regarded as easy to use by the majority of participants in the study, it was determined that library staff should be actively involved in the administration of the services. Search planners and flip charts for each of the systems, the end user and staff questionnaires, a publicity piece, and the follow-up study questionnaire are appended. (Author/THC)