This study examines the contributions of U.S. academic librarians to the peer-reviewed literature of library and information science (LIS). Compared to the authors’ study of thirty-two journals for 1993–1997, the present study finds that for 1998–2002, there were declines in the total number of refereed articles (almost 4%), number of refereed articles by academic librarians (almost 13%), proportion of refereed articles by academic librarians (just over 4%), proportion of academic librarian authors (almost 3%), and proportion of coauthored articles by academic librarians (almost 4%). Because different factors influence rates of authorship in a given set of journals and these rates tend to fluctuate in the short term, only further investigation can assess whether the declines are momentary or the start of a trend. Approximately 7 percent of academic librarians wrote three or more articles. The twenty most productive libraries published more than 10 percent of all refereed articles in the thirty-two journals and nearly one-third of the articles by academic librarians.

This study examined the contribution to the peer-reviewed literature of library and information science by practicing academic librarians in the United States. Data on authors were obtained from articles published from 1993 to 1997 in thirty-two journals. Of 3,624 peer-reviewed articles in these journals, 1,579 (43.6%) were authored by at least one practicing academic librarian. These librarians represented 386 institutions of higher educa tion. This study provides benchmark data for publication productivity of academic librarians and identifies a core list of peer-reviewed journals for them. Approximately six percent of these librarians wrote three or more articles in the five-year period. In nineteen journals one-third or more of the articles were authored by academic librarians. Libraries from Research I universities that were members of the Association for Research Libraries were the most productive. The contribution of practicing academic librar ians to the literature of their field is significant. he literature on publication pat terns in library and information science (LIS) usually focuses ei ther faculty in LIS schools or practicing academic librarians. Both groups have made significant contributions to scholarship within their discipline. Both groups come from an environment that val ues research and publication, but each tends to bring a different perspective. Practitio ners can make important contributions to the scholarly publications in a practicebased discipline. The degree to which prac ticing librarians contribute to the knowledge base of LIS is the focus of this investigation. To examine this question, the present study analyzed academic librarians' contributions to the peer-reviewed literature, documented their publication patterns, and compared these patterns with findings of earlier stud ies of publication patterns by academic li brarians and LIS faculty.Two recent studies have reviewed pub lication patterns of LIS faculty. Karen E.

Studies documenting the usage patterns of electronic journals have compared print and e-journal characteristics, surveyed faculty for their perceptions and expectations, and analyzed the impact on library practices. This study, a qualitative exploration of a wide array of issues related to the research and teaching habits of early adopters of e-journals in a research setting, was conducted in the spring of 2001 with faculty in the basic and health sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Open-ended questionnaires provided a framework to wide-ranging discussions of perceptions, expectations, and changing practices pertaining to e-journals and other electronic resources. The results were analyzed with a specific focus on shared behaviors and values, discipline-dependent variations, and changing research and teaching habits. Several challenges for library resources and services are identified and discussed.

This OPAC transaction log analysis study compared data derived from two sets of logs within a six-month period. Analysis of the first set of data revealed that users experienced difficulty with basic searching techniques. The OPAC introductory screens were simplified and clarified to help users improve search success rates. The second set of data, analyzed after screen changes had been made, showed statistically significant differ ences in search results. Regular monitoring of OPACs through transac tion log analysis can lead to improved retrieval when changes are made in response to an analysis of user search patterns.PAC users leave behind them a trail of searches and results that provides evidence of how well they understand and use a sys tem. Can analysis of this trail lead to im proved OPAC use if changes are made in response to observed problems? The in formation an OPAC contains is as crucial as the way the information is presented to users. Introductory screens can affect the way an OPAC is perceived and there fore affect the success of its users. This study is an analysis and comparison of transaction logs within a six-month pe riod at a large public university. The Transaction Logs Task Force, composed of public and technical services librarians, was charged with reviewing OPAC trans action logs to identify librarywide prob lems and issues, monitoring and analyz ing online catalog use, and reporting any suggestions for improvement to the Inte grated Library Systems Advisory Com mittee. Members of the task force were asked to consider potential changes to screens, system features, and instructional programs. The task force analyzed trans action logs of the university's OPAC alongside existing online user aids, evalu ated screen displays, and recommended changes to enhance the system's userfriendliness.

Academic special collections librarians have made great strides in making their collections discoverable and accessible to a wide audience. This article examines use of special collections departments and the many kinds of outreach librarians undertake to increase access to and knowledge of their collections, including creating electronic finding aids, digitizing material, collaborating with faculty, increasing participation in instruction and reference, and using exhibits, social media, and relationships with community partners to further the mission and goals of the library and the college or university. The article uses the University of Illinois at Chicago Special Collections Department as a case study.