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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Coan, Eileen
Format: Recurso educativo Open Access
Language:en
Published: 1993
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED355952
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author Coan, Eileen
author_facet Coan, Eileen
Coan, Eileen
collection Education Resources Information Center
contents The Use of Reference Tools and Skills by Bookstore Employees. Coan, Eileen Books Bookstores Demography Educational Background Employees Job Skills Job Training Library Services Questionnaires Reference Materials Research Tools Sales Workers Search Strategies User Needs (Information) A questionnaire was distributed to bookstore employees to determine their awareness and correct use of reference tools and skills with customers. Fifty employees returned the survey for a 42% response rate. The questionnaire collected demographic data on the education, work background, and on-the-job training of typical clerks at three Cleveland (Ohio) "upscale" bookstores. Only those staff members who have regular customer contact as part of their assigned duties participated; full-time buyers, administrators, and office staff were eliminated from the sample. It was found that most individuals in the group had a college education and some library experience, but very little reference training in their current positions. Seventy-six percent of the sample had an undergraduate degree and 26 percent had graduate degrees. Subjective questions found that the subjects were divided on their knowledge of computers, their use of reference books, and their willingness to call a library for assistance. This preliminary research points the way to the development of more effective training for bookstore clerks. Five tables present study findings; and three appendixes contain the 12-item questionnaire, its cover letter, and the field names and coding descriptions used. (Contains 21 references.) (SLD)
format Recurso educativo Open Access
id eric_ED355952
institution ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
language en
publishDate 1993
record_format eric
spellingShingle The Use of Reference Tools and Skills by Bookstore Employees.
Coan, Eileen
Books
Bookstores
Demography
Educational Background
Employees
Job Skills
Job Training
Library Services
Questionnaires
Reference Materials
Research Tools
Sales Workers
Search Strategies
User Needs (Information)
The Use of Reference Tools and Skills by Bookstore Employees. Coan, Eileen Books Bookstores Demography Educational Background Employees Job Skills Job Training Library Services Questionnaires Reference Materials Research Tools Sales Workers Search Strategies User Needs (Information) A questionnaire was distributed to bookstore employees to determine their awareness and correct use of reference tools and skills with customers. Fifty employees returned the survey for a 42% response rate. The questionnaire collected demographic data on the education, work background, and on-the-job training of typical clerks at three Cleveland (Ohio) "upscale" bookstores. Only those staff members who have regular customer contact as part of their assigned duties participated; full-time buyers, administrators, and office staff were eliminated from the sample. It was found that most individuals in the group had a college education and some library experience, but very little reference training in their current positions. Seventy-six percent of the sample had an undergraduate degree and 26 percent had graduate degrees. Subjective questions found that the subjects were divided on their knowledge of computers, their use of reference books, and their willingness to call a library for assistance. This preliminary research points the way to the development of more effective training for bookstore clerks. Five tables present study findings; and three appendixes contain the 12-item questionnaire, its cover letter, and the field names and coding descriptions used. (Contains 21 references.) (SLD)
title The Use of Reference Tools and Skills by Bookstore Employees.
topic Books
Bookstores
Demography
Educational Background
Employees
Job Skills
Job Training
Library Services
Questionnaires
Reference Materials
Research Tools
Sales Workers
Search Strategies
User Needs (Information)
url https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED355952