HOW RESEARCHERS LEARN OF MANUSCRIPT RESOURCES AT THE WESTERN HISTORY COLLECTIONS

Abstract

Researchers discover manuscript resources in many different ways. Tra- ditional methods of locating manuscripts, such as using printed guides and conducting citation studies, are today often supplemented by the use of electronic bibliographic databases and Internet search engines. Although archivists absorb through the reference process a fair amount of anecdotal information about how manuscript users find their collections, gathering statistical data on which access points are most commonly used can be beneficial for repositories and users alike. The information can be used to evalu- ate the effectiveness of a collection's access points and outreach programs and lead to improved services for researchers. During the calendar year 2000, the Western History Collections at the University of Oklahoma conducted such a survey of its manuscript users. The results hold significance not only for the Western History Collections, but also for other manuscript repositories that plan to conduct studies on the information- seeking behavior of their users.

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