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Purpose: This research examined the awareness of librarians, presidents and secretary generals regarding how-junior college libraries support education and research activities. Methods: Questionnaires were sent between June and September 2008 to the librarians, presidents and secretary generals of every junior colleges in Japan that has an independent library. The questionnaires contained 14 questions covering seven fields: 1) preservation and management of library materials, 2) interlibrary access, 3) enhancing library use, 4) introduction of online services, 5) educational activities by librarians, 6) learning and research support services by librarians and 7) library as a place. Valid responses were obtained from 146 librarians, 110 presidents and 124 secretary generals. Results: Librarians generally place greater importance on reference services in the field of learning and research support services than presidents and secretary generals, and place particular emphasis than secretary generals on the following six areas: 1) functions as an information center for external citizens in the area of preservation and management of library materials, 2) use of extramural libraries in the interlibrary access, 3) provision of web-OPAC services in the introduction of online services, 4) construction of library website in the introduction of online services, 5) library use education in the educational activities by librarians and 6) collection development in the learning and research support services. On the other hand, presidents are more interested in the functions of their library as an information center for citizens in the area of preservation and management of library materials and its open-door policy of library to the general public in enhancing library use than librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In Japan, 1,968 municipalities have merged between 1999 and 2005. It seems that this large-scale merging of cities, towns and villages had a great influence on the public libraries. The purpose of this paper is to examine the issues discussed at the time of the merger and to define the future issues of libraries in such merged municipalities. Methods: Questionnaires were sent out to main libraries of 483 municipalities that had merged into a single one respectively. Among them, 321 (66.5%) libraries responded the questionnaires, which are analysed in this paper. Results: The problem discussed most frequently at the time of merging is how the level of services can be adjusted between individual libraries after merging, e.g., adjustment of opening hours or library regulations for lending books. On the other hand, the issue of unifying library policies was not considered so much. These results show that the libraries have to give priority to issues on services that directly affect the users, because library staff didn't have enough time for discussion on them before the merger. The most common issue after the merger is to obtain enough budgets for purchasing library materials. Reorganization of the library is a future issue, too. Moreover, the libraries must consider how the service should be provided in geographic areas increased newly by the merger in a situation of severe fiscal limitations. To study more detailed library policies and organization in post merger of municipalities are also further research projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose and Method: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the implications of Elfreda A. Chatman's viewpoint for user studies. This study tries to understand Chatman's study by dividing it into a Pre-Theoretical Period and a Theoretical Period. First, what she attempted to discuss in the Pre-Theoretical Period is delineated. Based upon this understanding, an integrated interpretation of her theories is provided, then the implications of her viewpoint for the development of user studies are discussed. Results: At the end of the Pre-Theoretical Period, Chatman made a discovery which indicated that the maintenance of interpersonal relationships was always a primary concern of poor people during information seeking and use (ISU), rather than relying on such relationships without any inhibition. This discovery led her to a new way of looking at information poverty and ISU of the poor, which was developed in the ensuring period. Chatman developed her new understanding of ISU in the Theoretical Period. This distinct understanding, not like past studies, focused on ISU as a part of maintaining a "taken-for-granted life". This understanding contributed to the advance of user studies because it made it possible to capture intersubjectivity and reflexitivity between ISU and society. This is one of the implications of her viewpoint. Three future research issues can be elicited as implications other than those of Chatman's theories. The first is to expand the subject of analysis, especially analysis of ISU in organizations. The second is to explore the process of creation and re- vision of knowledge, beyond merely exploring the use and maintenance of knowledge as Chatman did. The third is to analyze more deeply the interrelationship between ISU and its situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to develop a framework for evaluating reference services in public libraries, and to propose a practical technique for measuring the quality of reference services based on the framework. Methods: Some previous studies on evaluating reference services are reviewed to construct a new framework for the evaluation. The resulting framework consists of four dimensions: constructional components of evaluation, context of evaluation, criteria of evaluation, and methods and measures of evaluation. Based on a review of the literature, this paper suggests that the quality of reference services should be evaluated through questionnaire surveys of library users because this method has proven to be effective. The author attempts to develop a questionnaire that can effectively assess the quality of reference services from the viewpoint of library users, by carefully examining the results of focus group interviews of actual users of public libraries. Results: A new framework for evaluating reference services, which has hitherto never been considered, is constructed through a literature review and critical analysis in this paper. Also, a template of questionnaires for evaluating the quality of reference services is developed as an effective evaluation tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There are currently no effective methods for evaluating the quality of reference services despite the knowledge that reference services need to be evaluated for both quantity and quality. This paper proposes a method for evaluating the quality of reference services provided by public libraries. Methods: Since there are no effective evaluation methods in the field of library and information science, studies of service quality in other areas, including social welfare, medicine, and education, were reviewed to identify potential methods. As a result of the reviews, two common factors were found. One is that most of the evaluation methods have a hierarchical structure. These methods consist of classifying several questionnaire items into categories, or "dimensions". The other common point is that most of the methods involve questionnaires being answered by customers, service providers, and third parties. Based on these two findings, it is proposed that a questionnaire can be used as an evaluation method for measuring quality of reference services. Results: An evaluation tool for measuring quality of reference services was developed by referring to evaluation methods in other service areas. First, a focus group interview was conducted to select questionnaire items. The questionnaire, including the selected items, was then given to librarians. The "dimensions" and their related items were identified by factor analysis using the responses from the questionnaire. The measurement tool for evaluating the quality of reference services was developed using the dimensions combined with the questionnaire items. This paper can be the first step towards further studies on the evaluation of the quality of reference services which has not been discussed to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]