The purposes of this Delphi study were (1) to establish the probable lines of development of both the conservation of materials in libraries and archives and of training for this field in the period 1981-2001, (2) to detect any significant differences between the futures envisioned by two groups involved with the problem, and (3) to determine the degree of firmness of opinion of persons concerned with the field. / Two respondent groups--25 professional library educators nominated by their schools and 19 individuals presently active in the conservation field ("preservationists")--were supplied a free-answer preliminary questionnaire (Round One). Answers to this questionnaire provided the definitive test instrument (Rounds Two and Three). Each group of respondents was returned this test instrument with the group means included and offered opportunity to change their responses. / The future as predicted will involve economic stringency, shortages of trained personnel, and some governmental conservation responsibility. / Materials in greatest danger (post-1880) will be treated at outside centers, with heavy use of microfilming. Respondents were undecided as to technology. Custodians will select materials to preserve and conservation administrators will be trained for wide knowledge rather than bench experience. Library schools will need trained conservators for instruction and some test or degree from an existing installation will constitute professional entrance. / Statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney test indicated the populations of educators and preservationists do not differ significantly in the developments predicted for the conservation field. / Only 2.4% of responses were altered when the means of the groups were presented, indicating a high degree of individualism and lack of concern for a group concensus. / Preliminary matter to the study includes history and analysis of the American Institute for Conservation of Artistic and Historical Works, its Code of Ethics, and of conservation training in North America. Tables and graphs provide detailed data reported in the study. Appendices present the text of both questionnaires. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-06, Section: A, page: 2343. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.

A survey of continuing education activities for professional public library personnel by state library agencies in the nine Southeastern states was carried out in the winter of 1980-81. / Research questions focussed on policy, administrative commitment, planning activity, and program activities during the previous fiscal year. / It was the policy of all state library agencies surveyed to conduct continuing education activities. / Administrative commitment was reflected in reported expenditures by all states of $359,547. Personnel totalled 71 persons involved with a full-time-equivalency of 5.02. No state had a full-time coordinator for continuing education. / Two states had completed, viable needs assessments. One state had a completed, comprehensive statewide plan for continuing education. / Administrative perceptions and decisions were found to be stronger determinants of activity than statutory authority or written policy or plans. Commitment of personnel and funding varied more widely than rankings of administrative priorities. / Reported participants in state agency continuing education offerings had declined to 3,346 from 3,925 during a 1972-1974 survey, while the numbers of opportunities had increased to 182 from 77. New types of opportunities, especially grants to attend conferences, were also offered. / Participants included 89% from public libraries and 58% with masters' degrees in library science. / Library Services and Construction Act funds were used extensively to facilitate continuing education activity. Such use affected types of activities offered, inclusion of personnel from different types of libraries, and flexibility in programming. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-06, Section: A, page: 2343. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.

The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of the characterization of Native Americans in selected children's and young adult's fiction books with a post-1945 setting. It sought to determine whether or not stereotypes of Native Americans appeared in this literature and whether or not there were differences in the portrayals of Native American characters by Native American and Non-Native American authors. Twenty-seven selection sources were used to identify the 114 books included in this study. / Supportive data for this study were obtained by using the technique of content analysis. The analytic instrument used in this study was developed by the researcher. It is a modification of the two instruments used by Gast in his study and a synthesis of criteria used in studies done by Shaw, Dusold, Feingold, the Council on Interracial Books for Children, the participants in the library Services Institute on Library Materials for American Indians, and the Stanford, California, Task Force for the Evaluation of Instructional Materials. In order to study the characterization of Native Americans, ten general categories were developed: story setting, attitudes of author in relation to Native Americans, use of dialect, author's portrayal of the relationship between Native Americans and whites, author's portrayal of the values and ethics of Native Americans, author's portrayal of contributions of Native Americans, author's portrayal of contemporary Native American life, characterization of the Native American character, stereotype with regard to characterization, and stereotype with regard to storyline. / The investigation revealed that by combining the elements of characterization that appeared most often in the books analyzed a composite Native American character could be created who can be described as: a main character who is a male, Navajo, teenager living in the West on a reservation in a hogan with both parents and attending school. His physical characteristics are described in terms of hair and eye color, he does not speak in dialect, and his goal in life is self-realization. There is a positive family relationship and their economic status is adequate. The relationship with whites is that of mutual tolerance and a strong sense of family and kin relationship is expressed as a value. His contribution to society is arts and crafts. Problems of health, education, and job opportunities are concerns of his contemporary life style. / Most of the books analyzed contained more than one type of stereotype with regard to characterization of Native American characters and more stereotypes with regard to storyline were found than in any other category. Books written by Non-Native American authors were found to contain more stereotypes than those written by Native American authors. / The researcher concluded that many of the more obvious stereotypes of Native Americans such as "Noble Red Man", "Drunken Old Indian", etc. have given way to a more subtle stereotype. Descriptions of Native Americans in the books analyzed often include a reference to an element of nature. There was also a noticeable lack of humor in the books analyzed. Because of the misconceptions about Native Americans being perpetuated in this literature, writers of children's fictional literature should be more insightful with regard to the dynamics of Native American culture. There is also a need for more children's books to be authored by Native Americans. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-06, Section: A, page: 2342. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if UGPA, GREV, GREQ and GGPA predicted accuracy on a fact reference test among recent graduates of schools accredited by the American Library Association. / Directors of 42 library schools in the United States provided admissions and performance data about which hypotheses were presented. A self-selected sample of 244 was derived from a population of 962 reference librarians employed in public and academic libraries which held at least 100,000 volumes and employed at least four librarians. Data provided by the library schools on 91 percent of the nonparticipants indicated that no bias developed on the hypothesis variables of the sampling techniques. / Sixty-five independent variables were collected. The dependent variable was collected via a 12 question reference test. The mean correct response rate of 6.32 questions indicated that 52.73 percent of the reference questions were answered correctly. / Correlations indicated 22 independent variables useful for regression analysis, which resulted in a "best model" that explained 52.7 percent of the variation in the dependent variable. One hypothesis variable, GREQ, appeared in the model. Total correct sources available was the only size variable which predicted accuracy. Other model variables related to the reference librarian were the ability to name a correct source, the degree to which reference and bibliography courses were interesting, the hours worked on the reference desk weekly, years in reference work since earning the MLS, and the degree to which reference work was satisfying. / It appeared that hypothesis variables UGPA and GGPA were too restricted in range to predict test score. The GREV also was restricted in range with a tendency toward moderate to high scores. Variable GREQ, which regressed significantly against test score, had a more even distribution of scores along its range. / The primary conclusion of this study was that when library collections contain most of the needed answer sources, factors related to the librarian become important in determining whether correct responses to fact questions are obtained. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-10, Section: A, page: 4188. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.

This survey study of the directors of academic libraries that participate in academic library consortia was conducted to provide a description of their roles in these cooperatives as well as to assess the impact participation has on their libraries and their own work. The total identifiable population of consortium participating academic library administrators was polled. / Dependent variables included: areas of benefit resulting from consortium participation, areas of problems and costs of participation, and the effects of budget constraints. Independent variables included sizes and types of institutions, control status of institution, consortium organization, and presence of a consortium director. / Findings indicated that: (1) Consortium governance is still the province of the library administrators. It requires commitments of their time but is not viewed as burdensome. Presence of a consortium director made no difference in perceptions of time commitment. (2) The major area of benefit identified is interlibrary loan. Other services seen to benefit include: reference and circulation. Presence of a consortium director increases perceptions of benefit. (3) Areas of cost associated with consortium activity were not preceived as heavy. The most cited area was the increased workload for the administrators themselves. Presence of a consortium director increases perceived cost. (4) No major problem areas were identified. The most often cited area was insufficient consortium funding. Fewer problems are seen when a consortium director is present. (5) Management skills identified as more important for the consortium setting included the communication skills. (6) Budgetary constraints were perceived as an impetus towards increased cooperation. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-01, Section: A, page: 0008. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1984.

The purpose of this study was to define the role of the Georgia public junior college library in the community in terms of (1) non-college clientele served and use of the library by noncollege persons, (2) reference services provided, (3) collection development, and (4) provision of services other than reference to noncollege users, as perceived by four groups: the junior college presidents, academic deans, library directors, and other professional library staff. Relevant literature of perception and role theory was reviewed, along with selected studies of community service activities of junior college libraries. / The study tested the general hypothesis that there are significant differences among the four groups in their perceptions of existing and preferred practices constituting the role of library in the community. Research questions investigated the degree of potential for conflict between the four groups in their perceptions of both existing and preferred practices regarding (1) noncollege clientele served, (2) the provision of reference services to noncollege persons, (3) collection development for noncollege persons, and (4) the provision of services other than reference to noncollege persons. / The mail questionnaire was used. The majority of the respondents perceived the role of the junior college library to be in traditional library services (circulation of library materials, in-building use of library materials with unrestricted use of study space, ready-reference and telephone reference services, circulation and renewal privileges similar to college patrons) and in community services, other than reference. / Despite the potential for conflict as shown by the lack of agreement among the four groups as to existing and preferred community services, all four groups favored greater cooperation with the public library for planning and presenting joint programs, an increase in activities organized and presented for noncollege persons (notably book reviews), increased assistance for graphic design, compiling community information resource files/directories, vehicle parking accessible to the library, and funds for community services in the library budget. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-03, Section: A, page: 0543. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.

The purpose of this study was twofold. The first purpose was to assess the impact, if any, of unionization upon public librarians' attitudes toward the profession of librarianship and toward unionization. The second purpose was to determine what relationship, if any, existed between the type of union within their institutions, and their attitudes. / Two thousand, three hundred and seventeen public librarians employed in unionized and nonunionized public libraries serving populations of 100,000 and over, were surveyed with questionnaires. / Three major research questions were examined: (1) What is the relationship between the presence or absence of unions in public libraries and the attitudes toward unionization and toward the profession of librarianship of the librarians employed there; (2) What is the relationship of union membership to librarians' attitudes toward unionization and toward the profession of librarianship in unionized public libraries; and (3) What is the relationship of the type of union (independent or nationally affiliated) present in the library, to librarians' attitudes toward unionization and toward the profession of librarianship in unionized public libraries? / Additionally, the demographic data obtained from respondents were examined in relation to their attitudes regarding unionization and librarianship; and respondents' attitudes toward unionization and toward librarianship were examined in relation to each other. / T-tests were used to examine the three major research questions, and stepwise multiple regression was used to examine the additional research interests. / The study's major findings indicate that: (1) Public librarians employed in unionized libraries hold more favorable attitudes toward unionization than do public librarians employed in libraries without unions; (2) Union members hold more favorable attitudes toward unionization than do union nonmembers; (3) Union members hold less favorable attitudes toward service than do union nonmembers; and (4) Generally, librarians who hold more positive attitudes toward unionization are more likely to have had more experience with unions, be employed in larger libraries, have worked less years as professional librarians, command lower salaries, be politically liberal, be primarily involved in nonadministrative duties, and be employed to libraries without staff associations. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-04, Section: A, page: 0826. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the existing status of Saudi university libraries and examine the attitudes and opinions of university librarians and some university officials toward an automated cooperative university library network in the Kingdom. / Data were collected with a five-part questionnaire, interviews, and analysis of relevant literature. The questionnaire was distributed to all library staff working in the seven Saudi university libraries. The questionnaire collected information on the existing status of libraries, and on the attitudes and opinions of library staff concerning a number of network functions, barriers, and requirements as well as the need, value, and feasibility of a library network. Interviews were conducted with selected university officials to learn the universities' experience with networking and network planning, support, and possible obstacles. / The findings indicate that each university library performs a variety of activities and provides many types of services and programs to its users. Cooperation among libraries was found primarily in the areas of inter-library lending, gift and exchange, photocopying, and union lists and catalogs. Only minimal efforts were given to interlibrary cooperation and coordination. From a technological point of view, libraries were found to be capable of being involved in an automated cooperative network. / The majority of respondents saw an automated cooperative library network as feasible and expressed willingness to participate in it. The major impediments for establishing a network were found to be human factors, lack of cooperative planning, institutional leadership, bibliographic control, standards, and communication. / Based on the findings, the investigator believes that with a higher level of cooperation, coordination, and commitment, these impediments can be overcome. Also, an automated cooperative library network should be organized to contribute to solving these problems and improving existing services and activities. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-07, Section: A, page: 1608. / Major Professor: F. William Summers. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.

The study compares public library directors who began their careers as children's librarians with those who did not in order to determine if differences exist in their gender, areas of service or educational qualifications. The opinion literature cited suggests that children's librarians are limited in their access to directorships through a perception that they are less qualified by virtue of their gender, area of service and professional educational qualifications. 919 directors of public libraries serving populations of 50,000 and above were surveyed, with a response of 84%, 9.7% of whom started as children's librarians. / The most significant difference between the two categories was in gender. The findings indicate that although most librarians nationwide are female, only 56.2% of the directors surveyed were female. However, 91.8% of those who began as children's librarians were female, a closer reflection of the profession as a whole. / No important differences appeared between the two groups in the areas of professional service, personal characteristics or educational credentials. / The study's findings appear to challenge the opinion literature regarding the perceived disadvantages which children's librarians believe they are under in their desire to become public library directors. The results suggest that the determining factors for such appointments may be related more to motivation and other qualitative factors than area of service or professional educational qualifications in addition to the master's degree in library science. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-03, Section: A, page: 0745. / Major Professor: F. William Summers. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.

The purpose of this dissertation was to compare the similarities and differences in productivity and status of 1979-1981 graduates of on-campus and off-campus programs of eight accredited American library schools. Graduates were compared on personal and demographic characteristics: (age, gender, marital status, number of dependents, source of financial support, educational background); position, type of library employment, and responsibilities prior to and immediately after awarding of the MLS, and currently; salary prior to and immediately after awarding of the MLS, and currently; membership in library/information related organizations, committee membership, and election to office at national and state levels; participation in continuing education; speechmaking; authorship of journals and books; subsequent participation in higher education; anticipated pursuit of higher education and/or change of library position in the near future; and perceived adequacy of library/information science education. / Significant differences were found between site of preservice education and the following variables: age, marital status, number of dependents, financial support, position held prior to the MLS, type of library employed prior to the MLS, salary prior to and immediately after awarding of the MLS, membership in a library/information related organization at the national level; and anticipated pursuit of higher education in the near future. Overall, there were more similarities than differences between the two groups. As an alternative hypothesis, age was found to be germane to the predictability of future progress in the profession, and may well be a more important factor than site of preservice education. Gender differences between groups was not significant, although gender was related to certain variables associated with status and productivity. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-12, Section: A, page: 3539. / Major Professor: Ronald Blazek. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.