Internet-related work activities and academic government documents librarians' professional relationships

This article examines specific Internet-related work activities of academic government documents librarians in the United States, and how these activities are affecting academic government documents librarians' professional relationships. Findings are reported from a nationally distributed mail survey of 226 academic government documents librarians, with an 83% return rate. Descriptive statistics indicate that, as a result of the Internet, closer professional relationships are being formed, especially with library systems/automation units, documents librarians at other institutions, and government representatives. Multivariate analysis results show that participation in Inter-net-related work activities is a key factor in explaining some of the variation among these changing professional relationships. Background characteristics and institutional characteristics are generally not significant. Implications of expanding professional relationships are discussed.

Duke Scholars

Author Ann Roselle School of Nursing