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This paper aims to provide a detailed discussion of a large-scale library reference evaluation study conducted at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in Ghana. The study seeks to evaluate the reference service from the user perspective, focusing on how users use and perceive the service.

Self-administered survey was used as the data collection instrument. One thousand questionnaires were distributed to library users in a three-week period, and the response rate was 63.7 per cent.

The reference service had a high non-use rate of 42.6 per cent, which was primarily attributed to library users’ self-sufficiency and lack of awareness of the service. The top three motivations for library users to use the reference service were class assignments, personal interests and using library facilities. Although their overall altitude was positive, users felt that reference librarians were more successful at exhibiting customer service qualities than performing tasks related to identifying users’ information needs and searching/locating relevant information to fulfill the needs.

The knowledge gained from this study will deepen the understanding of how the reference service is utilised and perceived by library users and offer insights on how to enhance the services to optimise the user experience.

This study yields an enriched view of reference service provision in the African context. Its findings will help other academic libraries in Africa successfully plan and implement their own reference evaluation efforts and ultimately encourage more evidence-based library practices in the developing world.

The characteristics and physical structure of the jet stream are described. The relationship of the jet stream to the general circulation in the atmosphere is illustrated by considering, first, the low level wind flow over the northern hemisphere and then the high level flow pattern (over 10,000 ft.). The seasonal change in position of jet streams and typical thermal and wind velocity cross‐sections are discussed. High altitude clear air turbulence is found to be associated with the periphery of the jet stream. The utilization of the jet‐stream as a wind‐aid in civil airline operations is discussed with reference to Pan‐American flights across the Atlantic and the Pacific.