New Jersey Area Libraries [electronic resource] : A Pilot Project Toward the Evaluation of the Reference Collection / Lloyd J. Houser.
The checklist and date distribution methods are used to evaluate the reference collections of two New Jersey Area Reference Libraries, an older, traditional single unit public library and a newer unit in a system of nine libraries. Three sectors of the reference collection are tested: reference book...
Saved in:
| Online Access: |
Full Text (via ERIC) |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[S.l.] :
Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse,
1968.
|
| Subjects: |
| Summary: | The checklist and date distribution methods are used to evaluate the reference collections of two New Jersey Area Reference Libraries, an older, traditional single unit public library and a newer unit in a system of nine libraries. Three sectors of the reference collection are tested: reference books, abstracting and indexing services and serials. The date distribution method has merit as an evaluation device, while the checklist method presents several problems which prevent its being recommended immediately as a testing device. It was found that the newer library fares far better than the older one in the date distribution test and as well and generally better in the checklist test, which leads to a question about the choice of libraries best suited for a role of a Level II or Area Reference Library. General recommendations are made for clearer definitions of the elements within the New Jersey library plan, for date distribution studies to be made of present and potential Area Libraries, and for systematic research and experimentation to continue. Specific recommendations provide a second step towards evaluation of the Level II reference collections, and recommendations are also made for the production of a Core List of reference materials common to the Level II libraries, a Union List of Unique Titles, and a Recommended List of Reference Titles tailored to the needs of New Jersey. (Author/JB) |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | Sponsoring Agency: New Jersey Library Association, New Brunswick. Library Development Committee. ERIC Document Number: ED027927. |
| Physical Description: | 57 p. |