An electronic survey of 40 elementary teachers of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district in the Triangle area of North Carolina was conducted to determine the effects of pre-service training on how often teachers collaborate with school library media specialists. Teachers were asked if they had received training in the media center and collaborating with media specialists, and were also asked to report the number of times they had collaborated in the previous semester. Although a statistical relationship between the amount of pre-service training in collaboration and frequency of collaboration was not established, the survey indicated that teachers who had received information about the media center in general were more likely to collaborate with media specialists. In order to increase instructional partnerships, it is recommended that schools of education increase information about the media center in their curriculum to better prepare pre-service teachers to collaborate with media specialists.

The study is based on the premise that the culture of library assessment from the users' perspective is of vital importance to determine what users' needs are and whether these needs are being met. Consequently, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the existing library services and using the assessment results can improve service delivery. The study examined the quality of service at Iringa University College Library (IUCo) from the users' perceptions. The users' expectations and perceptions of service quality were investigated to determine the gap that existed between the two; and to determine the extent to which the library met users' expectations or not. A sample of 294 undergraduate students, all 31 postgraduate students, and 50 academic staff were surveyed. The adapted LibQUAL+T questionnaire was self-administered for data gathering from these respondents. A total of 213 (72.4%) undergraduate students, 20 (64.5%) postgraduate students, and 31 (68%) academic staff responded. The results were analysed using SPSS to determine the frequency of responses. The results are displayed in the form of charts and tables. The insights gained from this study indicate that there is a gap between user's expectations and perceptions of service quality at IUCo Library. The magnitude of the gap varies depending on individual services. The results show that the most problematic services for users are: electronic journals, photocopying, interlibrary loan, electronic databases, a quiet library environment, and the library webpage. The results show also that there are variations within difference groups of users regarding the expectations and perceptions of service quality. The academic staff have higher expectations and lower perceptions compared to the postgraduate and undergraduate students. Recommendations to improve service quality at the IUCo Library and the introduction of new services pertinent to current needs of users are given. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

This study examined the quality of service provided by the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) Library from the perspective of the users of the library. It determined the gaps between users’ expectations and perceptions of service quality and it indicated the level of user satisfaction at the library. The identification of the gaps in the library services and the assessment results can improve service delivery. The intention of the study was to measure the users’ perceptions of the quality of the collections, personal services and facilities. The results will be used for service improvements and to make informed decisions concerning the quality of service that is offered at the MUT Library. The LibQUAL+™ instrument is being used by many libraries all over the world and is currently being used in South African libraries too. It helps librarians assess and improve library services, change organisational structure and market the library. The questionnaire is used to measure the gap between customer expectations for excellence and their perceptions of the actual services delivered by the library. The LibQUAL+™ instrument in this study was modified and simplified to identify these gaps. The instrument consisted of both open-ended and closed questions although the latter predominated. The three dimensions of service quality, that is, access to information, staff service and library facilities formed the core of the instrument. The research method used for this study was the descriptive survey. The population of the study consisted of both undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as academic and administrative staff. All faculties were represented. The stratified proportional sampling method was used and a sample of 1823 respondents were surveyed. Results were analysed using SPSS to determine the frequency of responses. The results are displayed using tables and graphs. The study yielded a return rate of 70.8% for students and 52.9% return rate for staff. An overall response rate of 69.5% was sufficient for data analysis. The results from this study indicate that there is definitely a huge gap between users’ expectations and perceptions of service quality at MUT Library. The extent of the gap varies depending on the individual services. All user categories had higher expectations than perceptions for most library services. The users’ expectations were not in keeping with their actual experiences at the library. Further, the findings of the survey indicated that the most problematic to users were library space, library facilities (for example, printing, photocopying and Internet access) and the inadequate and outdated book collection. Several insights gained from this study showed that users’ expectations were not met and many users had low perceptions of certain library services. The level of satisfaction varied among the different user categories. The staff affirmed that the overall quality of services were good while the majority of students affirmed that their satisfaction with the overall quality of library services was poor. Based on the findings, recommendations are presented to improve service quality and increase the level of user satisfaction at the MUT Library. / Thesis (MIS)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

The problem with which this investigation was concerned was an evaluation of community college learning resources programs as reflected by client opinion and use of services and conformity to the published guidelines. The purposes of the study were to ascertain the extent to which learning resources programs of selected metropolitan community colleges conformed to the recommendations published in "Guidelines for Two-Year College Learning Resources Programs," and to compare the guidelines scores rendered with faculty and student opinion and use of learning resources services on the campuses. No significant differences were noted in comparisons of opinion and utilization of learning resources services among either students or faculty on the campuses with the highest guidelines scores and the same groups on the campuses with the lowest guidelines scores. Based on the findings, the following conclusions were formulated: 1) the instruments utilized were not sensitive enough to distinguish subtle differences, if any, between the learning resources programs on the various campuses, 2) the learning resources programs included in the study were similar in nature, and 3) more differences exist between groups based on demographic variables than exist between the learning resources programs.

This study consisted of an examination of how service quality should be measured within libraries and how library service quality relates to library success. A modified version of the SERVQUAL instrument was evaluated to determine how effectively it measures library service quality. Instruments designed to measure information center success and information system success were evaluated to determine how effectively they measure library success and how they relate to SERVQUAL. A model of library success was developed to examine how library service quality relates to other variables associated with library success. Responses from 385 end users at two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers libraries were obtained through a mail survey. Results indicate that library service quality is best measured with a performance-based version of SERVQUAL, and that measuring importance may be as critical as measuring expectations for management purposes. Results also indicate that library service quality is an important factor in library success and that library success is best measured with a combination of SERVQUAL and library success instruments. The findings have implications for the development of new instruments to more effectively measure library service quality and library success as well as for the development of new models of library service quality and library success.

As academic libraries continue to evolve as service organizations, they should focus on their users. This calls for a better understanding of the specific needs of library users in order to provide the appropriate type and level of service that meets those needs. The overriding goal will be user satisfaction. In this study, a survey was used to determine the levels of satisfaction of post-graduate education students with library services at the University of Transkei. A questionnaire was administered to 100 post-graduate education students registered in 1998 of which 57 responded. The most important finding that emerged from the analysis of the responses was that the majority of the respondents were in general satisfied with the library services offered at UNITRA. However, dissatisfaction was expressed by at least twenty percent of respondents with noise levels, opening hours, lack of photocopiers, the accuracy of the library catalogue, materials being in their correct place, inefficient staff and interloans. It was found that respondents were reluctant to commit themselves to expressing high levels of satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Suggestions made by respondents included computerization and the need for staff training. Recommendations based on the findings were then made followed by suggestions for further research. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

GOIS, Maria Josineide Silva. Mensuração de Desempenho nas Organizações: a Gestão de Indicadores na Biblioteca de Ciências Humanas da UFC. 2009. 136 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Políticas Públicas e Gestão da Educação Superior) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Políticas Públicas e Gestão da Educação Superior, Fortaleza-CE, 2009. / Submitted by moises gomes (celtinha_malvado@hotmail.com) on 2012-06-22T12:02:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2009_dis_MJSGois.pdf: 3457088 bytes, checksum: 45c8dffbe7e8bc09847370b2100f8943 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Josineide Góis(josineide@ufc.br) on 2012-06-25T11:10:50Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2009_dis_MJSGois.pdf: 3457088 bytes, checksum: 45c8dffbe7e8bc09847370b2100f8943 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-06-25T11:10:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2009_dis_MJSGois.pdf: 3457088 bytes, checksum: 45c8dffbe7e8bc09847370b2100f8943 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / The aim of this study is to present the subject “organizational performance mensuration” through strategic management of indicators as instruments to control management information. It has as a purpose to develop and to apply performance mensuration taxonomy for the library. The research uses the functionalist approach and it is characterized for being descriptive and at the same time of practical aim. The guide basis for such investigation is the Sistema Nacional de Avaliação do Ensino Superior – SINAES, which institutes evaluation in higher education public institutions and the ISO standard 11620/2004 which spread knowledge on how performance measurement can be accomplished in the library. The Investigation was carried out at the Biblioteca de Ciências Humanas of the Universidade Federal do Ceará and aspects concerning the analysis of the product, the delivery systems as well as of the processes were approached. The instrument developed was showed to be efficient and of easy application, whereas the necessary information sources seem to be accessible and available in the routine of the library and resulted in consistent and precious information for managers. As a conclusion we can say that the performance systematic mensuration use is an efficient tool of control and accompaniment of management information, supporting the safe decision taking and the organizational planning, therefore, its dissemination must be encouraged / Este estudo apresenta o tema mensuração de desempenho organizacional por meio da gestão estratégica de indicadores como instrumento de controle da informação gerencial. Tem por objetivo desenvolver e aplicar uma sistemática de mensuração de desempenho para a biblioteca. A pesquisa utiliza-se do método funcionalista e caracteriza-se por ser ao mesmo tempo descritiva e de finalidade prática. Os fundamentos orientadores desta busca são documentos do Sistema Nacional de Avaliação do Ensino Superior – SINAES, que institui a avaliação nas instituições de ensino superior públicas, e a norma ISO 11.620/2004, que difunde o conhecimento sobre como a medição de desempenho pode ser efetivada na biblioteca. A investigação foi realizada na Biblioteca de Ciências Humanas da Universidade Federal do Ceará, tendo sido abordados os aspectos relativos à análise do produto, do sistema de entrega e dos processos. O instrumento desenvolvido mostrou-se eficiente e de fácil aplicação, pois as fontes de informação necessárias encontram-se disponíveis e acessíveis no cotidiano da biblioteca e resultou em informações consistentes e preciosas para os gestores. Conclui-se que o uso da sistemática de mensuração de desempenho é um instrumento eficaz de controle e acompanhamento da informação gerencial, respaldando a tomada de decisão segura e o planejamento organizacional, portanto, a sua disseminação deve ser estimulada

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns of library usage of student teachers and lecturers, the factors influencing their usage behaviour and the methods used by lecturers to promote use. A case study was conducted at Tonota College of Education in Botswana. Questioning data collection methods were used. A total of 172 student teachers and 84 lecturers were selected by means of stratified random sampling. The findings revealed that both student teachers and lecturers made frequent use of the library. Borrowing for curriculum-related use constituted more than half of the reasons why student teachers and lecturers used the library. Most of the lecturers indicated that they adopted topic assignments as a method of motivating students to make use of the library. This was confirmed by the majority of student teachers. Most student teachers perceived the College Library as contributing to their educational success. / M. A (Information Science) / Information Science

Analizamos la función de la biblioteca en una educación más alta, usando contribuciones de la profesión de bibliotecario, la filosofía de la ciencia (teorías de T. S. Kuhn) y Paedagogy. Concluimos la necesidad de incorporamos en una educación más alta el uso de bibliotecas y de la instrucción de la información para todos los estudiantes. También estudiamos la situación y el contexto de las bibliotecas españolas de la universidad, y evaluamos la biblioteca de la universidad de Murcia, desarrollando un modelo para eso considerando recomendaciones y estándares de la asociación americana del bibliotecario (ALA). También evaluamos el actual uso de las bibliotecas de los estudiantes de la universidad de Murcia, y concluimos que esta biblioteca tiene que mejorar sus procesos de organización y comunicativos. / We analyse the function of the library in Higher Education, using contributions from Librarianship, Philosophy of Science (T. S. Kuhn's theories) and Education Theory. We conclude the necessity of incorporate in Higher Education the use of libraries and information literacy for all the students. We also study the situation and context of Spanish university libraries, and we evaluate the library of University of Murcia, developing a model for that considering recommendations and standards of the American Librarians Association (ALA). We also evaluate the present use of libraries of the students of University of Murcia, and we conclude that this library have to improve its organizational and communicative processes.

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns of library usage of student teachers and lecturers, the factors influencing their usage behaviour and the methods used by lecturers to promote use. A case study was conducted at Tonota College of Education in Botswana. Questioning data collection methods were used. A total of 172 student teachers and 84 lecturers were selected by means of stratified random sampling. The findings revealed that both student teachers and lecturers made frequent use of the library. Borrowing for curriculum-related use constituted more than half of the reasons why student teachers and lecturers used the library. Most of the lecturers indicated that they adopted topic assignments as a method of motivating students to make use of the library. This was confirmed by the majority of student teachers. Most student teachers perceived the College Library as contributing to their educational success. / M. A (Information Science) / Information Science