Library and User Requirements and Orientation Techniques. Subgroup C; Interim Report

Abstract

A study was conducted to observe the behavior and problems of the users of University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) dictionary library catalog. The study group's activities included: (1) a literature search and the abstracting of catalog use surveys; (2) personal interviews with representatives of library units to obtain information about problems encountered in the use of public catalogs; (3) personal interviews with selected faculty; (4) a test user survey; and (5) a survey of catalog-related assistance. It was concluded that the use of the card catalog is distributed equally between graduate and undergraduate students, the user is unsure of the nature of the catalog, the physical arrangement of the catalog is threatening, and the filing structure is responsible for much difficulty. Despite the numerous problems, the general reaction to the UCLA University Research Library (URL) card catalog was favorable. A 59-item bibliography is included. A record of activity of the URL reference desk, task force reports, and the task force user questionnaire are appended. (Author/DS)