This book, first published in 1986, discusses reference personnel concerns and problems and offers suggestions to administration and management for improving reference personnel performance and staff development.

Explore the issues that are changing user/librarian interactions in today’s evolving electronic libraries This book examines the rapid advances in technology and scientific discovery that have changed the way sci/tech library users seek informationchanges which have also necessitated increasingly high levels of skill in information technology and advanced subject knowledge from librarians. From negotiating the intricacies of working with e-journals to simplifying the data collection process, anyone involved in allocating library resources or prioritizing research agendas will find relevant, useful information here, as will those involved in library education. Emerging Issues in the Electronic Environment: Challenges for Librarians and Researchers in the Sciences begins with Scientific Communication: New Roles and New Players, a detailed examination of the evolution of the information-seeking behavior of scientists, from the days of print-based resources to today’s electronic media. Next, you’ll find techniques designed to maximize the ability of scientists to make lucky connections in their electronic search for information in Too Important to be Left to Chance: Serendipity and the Digital Library. Four chapters in Emerging Issues in the Electronic Environment bring you up-to-date information on various aspects of working with e-journals: For Better or Worse: The Joys and Woes of E-Journals, investigates the impact of electronic-only journal holdings on collection development decisions and the accompanying issues of archiving, economics, content, and research use Scan It and They Will Come . . . But Will They Cite It? provides citation data on the usefulness and impact of retrospective digitization projects for journal contents The Use of Online Supplementary Material in High-Impact Scientific Journals raises vital questions as to whether the print or electronic article should be regarded as the primary archival resource Challenges and Opportunities for Bibliometrics in the Electronic Environment: The Case of the Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science investigates how issues of access, copyright, and fair use, as well as differences among online file formats may impact bibliometric analysis Two chapters in Emerging Issues in the Electronic Environment are designed to help simplify the data collection process. Information Overload: Keeping Current Without Being Overwhelmed will show you how to identify needed sources by using current awareness services and e-mail filtering technologies The Impact of Electronic Bibliographic Databases and Electronic Journal Articles on the Scholar’s Information Seeking Behavior and Personal Collection of Reprints reviews organizational methods for managing large collections of electronic articles. In addition, this forward-thinking book contains four chapters that point out possible avenues for increased librarian-facilitated service to users: Biology Databases for the New Life Sciences discusses the new sequence, microarray, and protein structure databases, the emergence of bioinformatics, and the opportunities available to librarians in this developing area Map and Spatial Data Acquisitions in the Electronic Age shows how the traditionally complicated and time-consuming process of acquiring cartographic information can be simplified by efficient use of the Internet Webinar Technology: Applications in Libraries reviews the operation, application, and features of Webinars and compares this technology with Web tutorials, virtual reference, and courseware management systems, videoconferencing, and Webcasting Preserving Digital Librari

"This book includes the integration of existing frameworks on user-oriented information retrieval systems across multiple disciplines; the comprehensive review of empirical studies of interactive information retrieval systems for different types of users, tasks, and subtasks; and the discussion of how to evaluate interactive information retrieval systems. "--Provided by publisher.

Extensive data on the theoretical and practical aspects of electronic reference services! Digital Reference Services provides an overview of electronic reference services and software, and explores the opportunities that real-time digital reference services can offer in a variety of library settings. Experts in the field convey numerous opinions and theory about the growth of this new approach to answering reference questions. This book teaches librarians new methods and techniques for offering technologically advanced reference services to the public. The first half of Digital Reference Services includes such topics as: real-time or live online reference services the historical development of digital reference services and the role of the reference librarian mediated online searches how to create a virtual-ready reference collection of elite reference Web sitesincludes a list of the top sites available to the public how to start and operate a digital reference desk in your library The second half of Digital Reference Services covers examples of librariesboth large and smallwhich have used revolutionary ideas to bring electronic reference services to their patrons. These ideas include: utilizing ATM-like kiosks in remote locations from library buildings to connect with underserved populations implementing live, interactive web-based reference servicesthe challenges and benefits, cost, training, and workload requirements evaluating your real-time references servicesinvestigating self-assessment and blind reviewing, incorporating your assessment into an existing evaluative program, and obtaining the administrative support essential for an accurate assessment creating a statewide virtual reference systemselecting software, developing policy, marketing, coordinating the project, and staffing and training online reference management for smaller librariesbecause of the smaller staff, smaller budget, and smaller amount of patrons, is it a feasible addition to the library? much more! This well-referenced volume contains case examples, figures, useful Web sites, and case histories to show how the basic principles of digital reference services work. Librarians and students of information and library science will find Digital Reference Services a helpful resource to enhance their library and electronic reference expertise.

The accompanying CD-ROM contains clinical examples, critical appraisals and background papers.

Research Methods and Design in Sport Management explains research design, implementation, analysis, and assessment criteria with a focus on specific procedures unique to the discipline of sport management. The text is an invaluable resource for students and practitioners in sport management because it focuses on applied research for organizational purposes and the qualitative and quantitative methodologies pertinent to the field of sport management. Organized in four parts, Research Methods and Design in Sport Management begins with an introduction to concepts in sport management research and a discussion of the ethical issues associated with research projects. The text outlines the steps to the research process, making it an easy-to-use guide for professionals undertaking a research project as well as students writing major term papers, theses, or dissertations. Analysis of research design with discussion of specific methods used in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research helps readers to determine and design the most appropriate research for their specific needs. This text teaches readers the following concepts and skills: •How to conduct a thorough literature review •Theoretical and conceptual frameworks to guide the research process •How to develop appropriate research questions and hypotheses •Techniques for conducting qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research •Methods for analyzing data and reporting results Multiple special elements in each chapter, including learning objectives, summaries, suggested advanced readings, and highlight boxes, guide readers through challenging concepts. A chapter dedicated to legal research in sport management provides a nonintimidating discussion of the unique elements evident in sport law research, such as legal precedence, case briefing, and special writing elements. Examples of published research in sport management illustrate ways in which various methodological tools and techniques can be used in answering research questions. Research in Action sections present excerpts from the Journal of Sport Management, which highlight research components mentioned in the text and assist students in learning how to read and evaluate research. In addition, all research examples provided throughout the text are specific to sport management, considering both sport industry settings and academic environments. Research Methods and Design in Sport Management offers readers the tools to engage in the broad spectrum of research opportunities in the growing discipline of sport management. As accreditation in sport management becomes more prevalent, Research Methods and Design in Sport Management can assist students in gaining the knowledge and skills they need in order to compete in the job market and to contribute to their future careers. For professionals, the text offers tools to ensure the research they conduct and consume can accurately inform strategic business decisions.

The “essential” companion to the landmark Users' Guides to the Medical Literature - completely revised and updated! 5 STAR DOODY'S REVIEW! "This second edition is even better than the original. Information is easier to find and the additional resources that will be available at www.JAMAevidence.com will provide readers with a one-stop source for evidence-based medicine."--Doody's Review Service Evidence-based medicine involves the careful interpretation of medical studies and its clinical application. And no resource helps you do it better-and faster-than Users' Guides to the Medical Literature: Essentials of Evidence-Based Clinical Practice. This streamlined reference distills the most clinically-relevant coverage from the parent Users' Guide Manual into one highly-focused, portable resource. Praised for its clear explanations of detailed statistical and mathematical principles, The Essentials concisely covers all the basic concepts of evidence-based medicine--everything you need to deliver optimal patient care. It's a perfect at-a-glance source for busy clinicians and students, helping you distinguish between solid medical evidence and poor medical evidence, tailor evidence-based medicine for each patient, and much more. Now in its second edition, this carry-along quick reference is more clinically relevant--and more essential--than ever! FEATURES Completely revised and updated with all new coverage of the basic issues in evidence-based medicine in patient care Abundant real-world examples drawn from the medical literature are woven throughout, and include important related principles and pitfalls in using clinical research in patient care decisions Edited by over 60 internationally recognized editors and contributors from around the globe Also look for JAMAevidence.com, a new interactive database for the best practice of evidence based medicine.

"The Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science provides an outstanding resource in 33 published volumes with 2 helpful indexes. This thorough reference set---written by 1300 eminent, international experts---offers librarians, information/computer scientists, bibliographers, documentalists, systems analysts, and students, convenient access to the techniques and tools of both library and information science. Impeccably researched, cross referenced, alphabetized by subject, and generously illustrated, the Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science integrates the essential theoretical and practical information accumulating in this rapidly growing field. The self-contained Supplements (each Supplement contains A-Z coverage) highlight new trends, describe the latest advances, and profile key people making critical contributions to the field. Recent individual Supplements considered topics such as Archival Science to User Needs Concept-Based Indexing and Retrieval of Hypermedia Information to Using Self-Checkout Technology to Increase Productivity and Patron Service in the Library Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Approach to Fraud Investigation to Visual Search in Modern Human-Computer Interfaces Supplement Volumes 36-61 are available; additional supplements in preparation."