Library Review

Jennifer Rowley

1994 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242539410067746

Seeks to explore aspects of the total customer experience in libraries, initially through three simple case studies, and subsequently by identifying some of the factors that might influence the customer experience. Proposes a methodology using walk‐through audits for monitoring total customer experience.

Reginald Clarke

1994 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242539410067737

Discusses the general usefulness of reserve collections in academic libraries and considers the place of the reserve collection in the University of the West Indies′ library. Describes the method of operation of this collection, and considers changes in its operation, relating both to library automation and to changing circumstances in the library.

Sam E. Ifidon

1994 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242539410067728

Discusses the provision of library services and the use of information technology in developed countries. The situation of library services and information technology in developing countries is then contrasted with that in the developed countries. Discusses and identifies reasons for the gaps between developed and developing countries in information services and information technology.

E.E. Nkereuwem; Uwem Eteng

1994 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242539410067719

Intellectual access to recorded information has been a major preoccupation of librarians and various methods have been used to evaluate library programmes. Statistical methods have been used recently in library evaluation and management. Managing the physical availability of books can contribute to greater effectiveness in dealing with such matters as library space, book acquisition, cost effectiveness in budgeting, staffing assignments and other aspects of library service that would make the book readily available to the user. This study uses quantitative analysis to determine in‐library book use at the University of Calabar. It was found that many people use the library for various reasons, especially during examination periods, other than for reading library books. These range from reading recommended texts to leisure reading. More use is made of the library materials for research purposes where there are current journals.

Cephas Odini

1994 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242539410067700

Reports on a comparative study carried out at the University of Sheffield to compare the performance of some manual and online sources in the retrieval of records in the subject of technology. Compares the performance of two related manual indexes with those of three related online databases. Considers all five sources with specific reference to relative recall and precision. While online searches have some considerable advantages over manual, the manual sources still have some qualities which render them valuable. Emphasizes the selection of databases on the basis of a compromise between high recall and high precision, and ultimately between both of these and the cost.