PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on searches made by the patrons of the Library of the ATEI of Thessaloniki using its online catalogue during the spring semester of the academic year 2007/2008. A previous study had revealed that patrons experienced difficulties while searching the OPAC and did not make the most of the system's capabilities. As a result, the library re‐examined specific aspects of its services and its user education programnes, and updated its software. The present research was undertaken in order to assess the impact of these changes and to study whether the searching behaviour of its patrons has improved, or whether serious system limitations still persisted.Design/methodology/approachThe data, collected from the transaction logs kept by the system's software, were processed and analysed statistically by using multivariate techniques.FindingsThe changes seem to have had a positive effect on patrons and their search attitude. Almost twice as many searches/sessions were carried out during the period of the present study compared with that of the previous one.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is based on the analysis of data gathered from a single university library, but the techniques used can easily be transferred.Practical implicationsNot only were areas for improvement identified and implemented, but also the results highlighted the shift towards, and the need to support, research‐based education.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates simple techniques using transaction logging to identify areas for improvement in OPAC systems.

Oil spills at sea pose risks to the marine environment and to the economy of many nations. Marine ecosystems are very vulnerable and precious as producers of oxygen and as regulators of climate. Therefore, their protection and preservation are necessary. In the event of an oil spill, anthropogenic clean-up activities and natural weathering processes can minimize the negative effects on marine organisms, and the marine environment in general. The target of this study was to investigate the status of the sea along the coastline of the Saronic Gulf, Greece, a year after the sinking of the Agia Zoni II oil tanker. Seawater samples from 15 sampling locations from Phlisvos coast to Anavissos, an area easily approached by bathers with recreational interest, were collected and analysed for total petroleum hydrocarbons. Concentrations up to a maximum of 56.6 μg/L were detected. Despite the large extent of the initial hydrocarbon pollution, the immediate clean-up operations and natural weathering and/or sorption processes have reduced the impact of the spill on surface waters.