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The study examined if students would prefer robots to human librarians in the delivery of library services. The study used a descriptive survey research design. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Of the 1009 students surveyed, findings indicated that most students would prefer human librarians to robots in the delivery of library services. However, students would like to see robots introduced into library services because they believe they would be effective in giving directions, welcoming users, ensuring library security, answering library users' questions, monitoring library users' activities, library users' registrations, charging and discharging of books, and maintaining library quietness. The study concluded that robots are necessary for providing library services and therefore recommends that robots be bought to do difficult and time-consuming jobs such as library security, monitoring library user activities, and providing directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries have long used patrons' willingness to return as a metric for assessing reference services, but have not measured actual return rates for this service. Knowing if our user base is a small number of highly engaged patrons, or many patrons who visit only once, has implications for service improvements, marketing, and assessment. This study establishes 28% as the baseline return rate for chat reference at one research university, with 62% of all sessions coming from repeat users. Predictors of whether a patron would return after their first session are affiliation (e.g., whether they are faculty, graduate student, undergraduate, staff, or not affiliated with the university), the duration of the session, and where on the library website the chat was initiated. The librarian assisting, wait time, and the patron's own rating of the chat are among the factors that are not predictive. Further research into why patrons do or do not return, and what constitutes a good return rate, is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes the coresearch engagement model (CoRE), which addresses how the academic research librarian can become a coresearch partner with any patron. The CoRE model is an interpersonal process and is founded upon the concepts of mutual respect, collaboration, reciprocity, and empowerment. Grounded in Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory, Malcolm Knowles’ andragogical model, and guidelines from the Reference and User Services Association, CoRE has the potential to result in engagement for the librarian and patron. The CoRE model can be utilized in many ways including self-awareness and development for those who need and want to expand their abilities as a research librarian. It provides a theoretical framework and a knowledge base, in addition to giving a context for further development by expanding, comparing the related theories for further research, and implementing various applications suggested by this article. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Changes in information and technology continue to test how librarians interact with and support patrons. Now, engaged librarians have the opportunity to immerse themselves in their user’s workflows and become partners in the research enterprise. Engagement represents a model of librarianship in which librarians are challenged to move from the traditional collection-centered model to an engaged-focused one. It requires new roles and tasks, as well as a deeper understanding of the academic setting. This article discusses working in a large research institution and articulates the engagement model. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The nature of music collections and their use means that patrons have always required specialized guidance from librarians to access what they need. Currently, library patrons' expectations are growing as collections and their delivery modes evolve. Music reference services must adapt to effectively address these needs. This article examines the challenges to delivering effective music reference service, the basics of reference assessment, and how assessment models such LibQual+, the Wisconsin-Ohio Reference Evaluation Program, and the Reference Effort Assessment Data Scale can help librarians build patron-centered music reference services. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As more people use mobile technology, libraries need to be in a position to engage library patrons online. Engaging people online cheaply and effectively is a challenge, but by taking advantage of services such as Twitter, libraries can create a dialog with users. Applications that make managing Twitter accounts easier are free and widely available. Librarians can monitor activity with a simple RSS feed and generate interest for their Twitter accounts through news, discussions, and games. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Decision theory, or the study of how individuals make choices, is a burgeoning field of study within many disciplines: economics, computer science, psychology, and organizational theory, to name a few. However, it has been less examined in library science. The study of how library users make decisions can aid librarians in many ways, such as marketing of services, purchasing decisions, or advocacy efforts. One way to build the study of decision theory into library science would be to incorporate decision-making concepts into Library and Information Science education. This article presents an overview of decision-making concepts and explores why these ideas should be incorporated into Library and Information Science education. The article concludes with suggestions on how to best incorporate decision-making concepts into Library Information Science education. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article discusses the decision that some libraries are making to only provide the electronic version of certain journal subscriptions. The article suggests that this decision would make content searching easier for consumers who can begin looking up their topic right away instead of first trying to locate the issue in the library. Also discussed is the amount of stress that would be relieved from libraries who would no longer have to manage and catalog paper copies.

E-mail reference has been utilized as a reference tool in academic libraries since the early 1980s. Today it is one of the most common media for providing digital reference service. An important aspect of providing any service is evaluating users' satisfaction levels with that service. Users of the Ask-A-Librarian e-mail reference service at a large academic library over a ten-month period voluntarily completed a seven item web-based questionnaire. The results indicated that the majority of respondents were satisfied with Ask-A-Librarian overall. This paper discusses how the library used the survey results to improve the existing service, and to implement a new one-chat reference. Reference service providers should not only ask users for feedback on existing services, but also should include them in the planning and design phase of new services. In doing so, they demonstrate their commitment to providing adequate and appropriate services to their patron community, and ultimately can save their institutions time and expense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate of change in music reference represents a challenge to librarians. The three issues in the library literature that probably have the greatest impact on music reference service and are the subject of this paper are changes in users, sources, and modes of access to sources. These three issues are certainly related, as users need to use sources, and they need to know how to access them in order to use them. Reference librarians are called upon to mediate this process. Music library collections have their own peculiarities, however. Because they contain a wider variety of materials than many other kinds of library collections, reference librarians for music collections must be aware of the format, content, and intended uses of these materials, as well as the research patterns of their patrons. In the recent past, as cultural norms have changed with the paradigm of Western culture, users have wanted to use music libraries in new ways, and librarians are challenged to accommodate them. The musical genres used and requested by today's library patrons are different than they once were, both for listening and for academic study. Musical reference sources are being issued in electronic formats, and this represents a challenge for some users. The expanded use of interlibrary loan and electronic access to materials represents new opportunities and challenges. Music librarians are being called upon to provide services to patrons they may never see. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of electronic sources has had a significant impact on reference collections in libraries, and public library reference collections are no exception. Evaluating, selecting, and organizing sources to meet the needs of public library users has always been a fundamental role of public librarians. However, now they have the added responsibility of evaluating electronic resources and deciding whether the electronic sources will supplement or replace traditional paper reference sources. Issues of authority, accessibility, cost, comfort, and user education must be carefully weighed during this evaluative process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the current state of digital versus print reference collections in school libraries. issues addressed include an overview of adoption practices, acceptance and use of digital materials, and implications for the future. The article compares findings from multiple sources to provide an in-depth examination and understanding of the qualities and characteristics that school libraries share. The sources include current literature, research findings, and the observations and experiences of an information specialist in the role of participate observer. Survey and analysis of this data will provide a triangulation of information that will form the basis of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a use analysis and the results of a user survey of Bowling Green State University Libraries' "Chat with a Librarian" service for the academic year 2001-2002. When appropriate, the results are compared with the results of other libraries' services. Information examined includes when and from where users ask questions via the services, how users find out about the service, and what types of questions the users ask, the status and affiliation of the users, and user satisfaction with the service. Most of this information can be compared to findings from at least one other academic library's study of a somewhat similar service. With a few exceptions, the findings are similar from service to service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on difficult library users in academic libraries. Description of the patron and librarian relationship; Issues faced by students and faculty in the academic library environment; Characteristics of problem patrons in academia.