Jm. Burkhardt, THE SMALLEST ACADEMIC-LIBRARIES IN THE UNITED-STATES AND ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY, REFERENCE & USER SERVICES QUARTERLY, 37(2), 1997, pp. 191-196
In this study, the directors of the smallest academic libraries in the
United States (monographic collections of fewer than 30,001 volumes)
were surveyed to determine the types and extent of electronic technolo
gy available in these small libraries and how that technology was bein
g used. The survey was also designed to gain some insight into the sat
isfaction of both users and library staff with the electronic technolo
gy offered. The results of the study indicate that most of the smalles
t academic libraries are providing electronic technology in a variety
of formats. Both users and staff find the electronic technology useful
and, in some cases, time saving. Correlation analysis indicates that
instruction is positively linked to both the amount of use given to el
ectronic technology and the satisfaction with the results of that use.
Most of: the library directors surveyed indicated that they plan to e
xpand their offerings in this area in the near future.