Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 1995. / "UMI number: 9524172." Includes vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 268-278).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 1995. / "UMI number: 9524172." Includes vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 268-278).

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the perceptions of presidents, academic deans, and learning resources administrators in the public community colleges in Florida to determine to what extent similarities and significant differences exist regarding the 1972 "Guidelines for Two-Year College Learning Resources Programs." / A three-part survey questionnaire was sent by direct mail to the three groups of Florida community college administrators. The first part of the questionnaire solicited personal and institutional information. The second part, the focal part of the survey, gathered perceptions of the administrators regarding statements from the Guidelines relative to learning resources areas: objectives and purposes, organization and administration, budget, staff, facilities and instructional equipment, and materials. Part III surveyed opinions regarding the need for quantitative standards to implement the qualitative Guidelines. Space was also provided for comments. / A Likert-like scale of five numbered places allowed the respondent to assign a degree of importance to statements from the Guidelines. Information was supplied by check marks in other parts of the questionnaire. All responses to the questionnaire were tabulated in numbers and percentages of the population reporting. These figures were placed in tables. / Results of the survey of perceptions revealed many similarities in the perceptions of Florida community college presidents, academic deans, and learning resources administrators. However, perceptions varied within the individual groups as well as among the three groups; perceptions varied frequently from the lowest to the highest level on the scale. Responses from presidents tended to be less scattered on the scale than those from academic deans or learning resources administrators. / Results showed some differences in perceptions of the academic deans vis-a-vis presidents and learning resources administrators regarding several sensitive statements in the Guidelines. The most significant variances in perceptions concerned the rank and status of the chief learning resources administrator, the staff, instruction, and the budget. / Out of the total of seventy-seven administrators, 62 percent believed that quantitative standards were necessary to implement the qualitative Guidelines. Learning resources administrators recognized greater need for the quantitative standards than did either academic deans or presidents. Academic deans saw the least need. The majority of the administrators in favor of the quantitative standards believed that the standards should be based on a formula which could be applied to colleges of varying sizes. However, in spite of the agreement that there was a need for quantitative standards, questions were raised about applying the standards. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 41-01, Section: A, page: 0009. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1980.

The present study offers an organized analysis of that portion of the content of Puerto Rican newspapers and journals of the Spanish Colonial period pertinent to the island's music and musical life. / The time-span chosen for this study encompassed the Spanish colonial period in its entirety. Insofar as publishing is concerned, this era began with the importation of the first printing press in the first decade of the nineteenth century. The study ends with the termination of Spanish sovereignty in 1898. / The number of existing sources is uneven, offering a larger number of both titles and issues in the last three decades of the century. Each existing number was examined for its musical content. The latter was summarized by decades in a general way, then described in detail in tables appearing in Part II. / These tables are divided into very broad categories which are continued throughout and which enable the reader to follow particular segments of musical life throughout the century. / The categories are: (1) religious music; (2) dances and other secular festivities; (3) articles, short pieces and song texts; (4) concerts and theatre; and (5) advertisements. / This study has determined that Puerto Rican newspapers and journals of the nineteenth century are indeed a valuable source for the investigation of the island's musical history. The materials available in these sources has now been described in such a way as to provide a research tool for the serious musicologist and social historian. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 41-02, Section: A, page: 0446. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1980.

This study profiled both the strengths and weaknesses of six high school media programs selected as "exemplary". Selection was by experts in eah of six states who nominated schools, and through the administration of the Purdue Self-Evaluation Survey for Media Centers to the 17 nominated schools. Final selections included two schools each from Oklahoma and North Carolina, and one each from Florida and South Carolina. / The investigator then visited the six selected schools for two days each and, utilizing nine additional instruments, measured the factors influencing "exemplary" program development. / Nine program factors have a pervasive influence on exemplary programs. There are: Setting, District Level Development, Services, Administrative Support, Professional Staff, Planning and Evaluation Functions, Facilities, Acceptance of an Instructional Development Role for the Library Media Specialists, and Attitude of Students, Parents and other Community representatives. / Some of the findings were: (1) District Level Support--District Level Support does indeed contribute to the achievement of excellence in the majority of these schools. (2) Frequency and Variety of Services Offered--There is a high correlation between perceptions of the library professionals and teachers as to library services. (3) Administrative Support--Strong Administrative Support was demonstrated in all six schools. (4) Characteristics of the professional staff--An average of 17 years of experience in their current position, the majority of librarians hold master's degrees; Personality--extroverted, independent, leaders have "tough poise". (5) Planning and Evaluation Function--have all developed written plans, majority have conducted evaluative surveys of their programs. (6) Facilities--covered space allocation, location, furnishings, environment. Schools with large-size student population exceed the other two sizes in all four major areas. (7) Instructional Development Role of Media Specialist--Library professionals, teachers and administrators agree on "information services" as the preferred role of the media specialist. (8) Students/Parents Attidues--Ninety-one percent of the parents felt that the library media center was "basic" not a "frill", but were concerned with access to the center. Lack of accessibility was also a major concern of the students. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 43-02, Section: A, page: 0293. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1982.

The purpose of this descriptive research study was to survey statewide film service for U.S. public libraries through state library agencies. / The state library agencies of the United States were surveyed to determine if there are patterns emerging as to the (1) types of services offered; (2) financial support given; (3) type of use made of the service; (4) actual users; (5) how these factors interrelated. / A review of the related literature provided the background information for the development of a survey questionnaire to gather the data. The population consisted of the fifty state library agencies. The number of usable questionnaires totaled 42 which gave a 90 percent level of confidence in the data which were analyzed. / The findings of the research provided the following conclusions: (1) Eighty-six percent of the responding agencies operate or contract for statewide film service. (2) The sources of funding were divided between 47% state and 45% federal. (3) The major expenditures were 46% for films and 35% salaries. (4) The major users were public libraries followed by state agencies, academic libraries, universities and community groups. (5) Catalogs were distributed by all respondents. Inservice workshops were used by 57%. / Implications from this study indicate a need for standardization of methods for collecting and recording statistical data related to circulation and holdings. Cooperation and communication from state to state must be addressed as film prices rise and federal funds are threatened. / Recommendations for further study are: (1) Investigate automatic film booking systems. (2) Examine the distribution methods of media. (3) Develop a standard for statistics. (4) In two years compare the budget data to determine if there has been a federal cutback. (5) Investigate in detail the organization and operation of various regional film services. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 43-02, Section: A, page: 0295. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1982.

A Delphi study composed of three rounds was carried out by polling 200 specialists in library/information studies and gerontology on the question, "How should the information needs of the aging be met?" The first round, an open-ended query of the research question, was followed in Round 2 by a 40-item questionnaire assessing importance of activities or applications suggested. Round 3 resubmitted the questionnaire with feedback on the mean and interquartile range for each item from Round 2, with the participants given the opportunity to reassess their previous responses in the light of this new information. This study was primarily a heuristic application of the Delphi technique, with discovery of opinion foremost and convergence of opinion a scondary, but important, consideration. Ninety-three panelists in four areas of responsibility remained through all three rounds: 25 library/information specialists, 21 educators/researchers in gerontology, 32 policy-level administrators at the state and regional levels in gerontology, and 15 service providers in area agencies on aging. / Four types of analysis were carried out on the data: (1) interpretation of change from Round 2 to 3; (2) comparison of response by the four groups of participants; (3) an item-by-item analysis; and (4) summary analysis of the grouped data. The different responses by the four subgroups suggested that occupational background was a large determinant toward the way the research question was perceived. With minor variations, however, the panel was agreed that informational need was best met by better transportation, interagency outreach programs, more one-to-one contact through existing structures, and better training for workers with the aged. The component agencies of the governmental network on aging were recognized as the best means of information dispersal to the aging; library/information professionals were not perceived by the other three subgroups as important sources of information for the aging. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 43-12, Section: A, page: 3742. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1982.

This study utilized the Delphi technique to codify the opinions of experts in the library field regarding the role of the State Library Agency in the year 2000. Six panels representing State Library Agency directors, public, academic, school and special librarians; and other specializations rated the probability and desirability of thirty-five role statements. Respondents agreed that the current methods of local-state-federal funding would continue; awarding of federal funds directly to eligible libraries would be unlikely and undesirable; state networks would be governed by a commission with representation from the State Library Agency; multitype cooperatives are desirable; state library agencies should reorient their image to include all types of libraries. Concern was expressed about the need for personnel skilled in new roles, especially networking and the application of new technology. / The study found no significant differences between the panels regarding the role of the State Library Agency. The study concluded that State Library Agency policy seems responsive to the expectations of its constituents and that conflict is inevitable as state library agencies change their roles in the library environment. Conflict assists in the diffusion of knowledge regarding the State Library Agency functions and activities. Further, it was recommended that State Library Agency directors seek personnel with skills appropriate to new roles, especially networking, new technology and relationships with all types of libraries. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-01, Section: A, page: 0006. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1983.

Library Education and Personnel Utilization (LEPU), an American Library Association policy statement, provided the framework for this exploratory study of support staff career ladders in university libraries. The overall goal was to determine through a survey of 160 university libraries if the principles of LEPU have been implemented. Of specific interest were characteristics of existing career ladders, factors which influence those career ladders, and library managers' perceptions of advantages and disadvantages of career ladders. / The majority of university libraries use support staff categories similar to those described in LEPU (clerk, library technical assistant, and library associate). Career ladder components occur most often for the clerk category and least often for the library associate category. That high-level category, rather than the library technical assistant, is at a "dead-end" on the career ladder. / Several factors were found to have an apparent positive influence on career ladders. These included establishment of the categories by a city/state personnel system, unionization of either support staff or librarians, Association of Research Libraries membership, and public funding for the institution. In contrast, several factors which seem to reduce the likely existence of career ladders included library involvement in establishing support staff categories and library faculty formulation of policies affecting support staff promotions. / Administrators more often named career ladder advantages than disadvantages. Advantages included delineation of personnel policies, increased job satisfaction, retention of staff members, and better library service. Among the disadvantages were reliance on arbitrary requirements for promotion, establishment of alternate routes to professional positions, conflicts among staff members, and impairment of affirmative action programs. / LEPU has had little direct effect on career ladder policies for support staff in university libraries, and administrators believe that the practical value of LEPU as a model is limited. In light of this, a review of LEPU by ALA is imperative. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 44-12, Section: A, page: 3530. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1983.

A descriptive study of the use, cost, perceived value and social context of telecommunications tools in two year libraries in the Southeast was undertaken. There were three purposes in the study: (1) to describe the cost and use of telecommunications tools; (2) to investigate the perceived value of those tools; (3) to investigate the social context of the use or non-use of those tools. / The study was implemented in four stages. First, a questionnaire was mailed to all 269 two-year colleges to establish their organizational patterns and the identity of library managers. Seventy-seven percent responded. Second, a questionnaire was mailed to 175 of the responding libraries inquiring about the use and perceived value of telecommunications tools. Fifty-nine percent responded. The third stage was limited to those libraries with a high level of telecommunications usage (5 or more tools). This group was constituted of 48 libraries, of which 66 percent responded. The application of a social model composed the fourth stage. / It was found that few libraries in the Southeast employ telecommunications tools at a high level. There is little money available for such tools and costs are relatively high. When telecommunications tools are employed they receive extensive usage by relatively few students. The technology most in evidence is that pertaining to video machines of various types. Computer technology was decidedly under-represented, although it was often preferred above other tools. / The perception of such tools was positive among librarians, although costs were often perceived as a hinderance to the use of the tools. The cost levels influenced about 25 percent of the librarians to favor fees being charged. The tools perceived as being of most value generally were those related to video technology. / Socially, the employment of such tools represents an important technological, social and procedural change for librarians. Such change represents a shift in the distribution of knowledge in society and the alteration of role-expectations among information professionals--as well as the addition of new information professions. Dialectical procedures are seen as a useful choice for affecting stability in library related information roles. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-04, Section: A, page: 0979. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1984.