Academic librarians in Illinois were surveyed to determine their attitudes toward and recordkeeping practices for online searches. Findings indicate that confidentiality is considered to be as important for online searches as for circulation records, but that recordkeeping practices and attitudes toward subject and client disclosure do not assume…

This guide to the policy-making functions of community colleges' boards of trustees is based on a 3-year operational review conducted by Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario (Canada). The guide begins by outlining the purposes and processes of Cambrian's governance self-study. Next, differences among Canadian colleges that affect the role of their…

This guide serves as an academic departmental planning instrument and provides a description of the various collections, goals, and policies of Southeast Missouri State University's Kent Library. An overview provides information about the library's mission, funding sources and allocation procedures, departmental library liaisons, overall selection…

A study was conducted of the social and economic costs of persistently high youth unemployment in Australia. The impact of youth unemployment and education, training, and employment policies that might help the situation were also studied. Data were obtained from 13 focus groups, involving 102 young people who were not employed or were from…

This practicum sought to develop a consensus definition of what an after-school enrichment program should be, utilizing the Delphi Research Technique, which is designed to collect and synthesize group opinion in an anonymous, interactive, self-repeating, and self-adjusting manner. Three rounds of questionnaires were sent to 31 teachers, school…

The goals of the 1988 Colorado Health Education Survey were: (1) to document the status of health education in Colorado schools by surveying all school districts in the state as well as by sampling teachers; and (2) to make recommendations based upon study findings available for consideration by the Colorado Department of Education. Part 1, the…

This manual describes a systematic process for conducting an educational needs assessment at the building level which includes suggestions for the formation of an advisory group and the use of two Likert Scale surveys. The advisory group is composed of parents, students, and educators; this group carries out the tasks of understanding, planning,…

This resource guide for initiating assessments of educational needs provides perspectives concerning possible and feasible ways to plan, organize, and implement such an assessment. The essence of needs assessment is discussed and a perspective on the effort is given. Crucial planning processes for a needs assessment are outlined and illustrative…

This report describes a 1979 survey of 389 Iowa school districts which was conducted to determine the state of instructional materials selection policies in each district. Respondents, usually high school library media specialists, furnished data in three areas: (1) the current state of their district media selection policies, (2) selection policy…

The Gaston County (North Carolina) board and superintendent have developed a board self-evaluation questionnaire and a community questionnaire to improve the board's effectiveness as a policy-making body. The 30-item community questionnaire is appended. (MLF)

Briefly discusses no-plan approach and linear approach to school district computer involvement and suggests contingency planning approach is better. Components of this approach--conducting situation audit of internal and external environments, generating within-district support, formulating district-wide policies, and developing an ongoing…

The Department of Defense (DoD) is committed to meeting the need for child care among military families. DoD supports the largest employer-sponsored system of high-quality child care in the country. Through accredited child development centers (CDCs), family child care (FCC) homes, youth centers, and other after-school programs, DoD currently…

Whether consensus existed among groups involved in implementing the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was examined through the Delphi technique for legislators, policymakers, directors of rehabilitation centers, and client training staffs. Different perceptions of objectives are highlighted, and the usefulness of the Delphi technique is…

This paper presents the findings of a single case study of a particular board of education's decision-making process in a crisis situation, and explores interpretation of those findings from two theoretical perspectives. The crisis resulted from the charges against and conviction of the superintendent for a sexual assault on a 17-year-old female…

The American institution of Academic Boards of Trustees is examined, with attention to their operation and conduct; their importance to the effective functioning of American higher education; whether their roles are subject to erosion over time; and their relationship to the college presidency. The analysis is based partially on interviews…