Abstract
This research is an examination of the perception by academic librarians of the Web version of Lexis‐Nexis academic datafile. Specifically, the investigation utilizes three parameters, namely: user‐effort, measures of effectiveness and retrieval techniques. These criteria were deemed essential when analyzing the performance of this information data source in the perspective of academic information specialists, results of which may be useful in its future redesigns and in the scrutiny of the nature and quality of reference services in a particular setting.