Computer manuals vs. Online help - a short survey

[tklassen at mail.wesleyan.edu]

Greetings, I'm trying to conduct an informal survey as to librarians
 preferences for using online help versus computer manuals versus
 third party computer handbooks. I will summarize for the list. The kind of 
 software I'm referring to are commercial programs such as Photoshop,
 Word, Endnote, Illustrator, Frontpage, Claris HomePage, etc.

 1. In order, which resource do you prefer for getting help with a
 software question:
 ___ Online Computer Help, ie the Web site of manufacturer
 ___ Built in help, for instance that pesky paperclip that comes
     with Word
 ___ Manuals that come with the product
 ___ Third party computer manuals that you buy from bookstores or
     borrow from your library

 2. Does your library buy third party computer manuals

 3. Does your library catalog and shelve manuals that come with
 computer programs?

 4. Which do you thinks are most helpful:
 ___ Online Computer Help
 ___ Built in help
 ___ Manuals that come with the product
 ___ Third party computer manuals

 5. Do you ever use the built in help?

 6. Does it ever help? (give a rough percentage please)

 7. Do you think libraries should buy third party computer
 manuals?

 Thanks for your help! Some of the results may be used anecdotally
 in an article I'm working on.

 Best,
 Tim Klassen
 Science Librarian
 Wesleyan University Library
 Middletown, CT
 tklassen at wesleyan.edu