This compendious study was undertaken to consider how to deal with increasing student enrollments and decreasing higher education budgets so that students would not suffer unduly from program reductions. The study includes Part I, Perspective, considering the changing purposes and goals of higher education and recommending strategies for changes…

A simple algebraic method of compensating for inflation while allocating the book budget by funds is presented. The results of attempts to generate library-resource unit cost figures based on internal measurement of buying patterns are described. (Author)

Inflation is currently affecting library book budgets, particularly the acquisition of serials. This model would balance the purchase of serials against the purchase of monographs by individual funding units within the academic library. Consideration is given to inflation as a cost factor. The model is applied to a specific example. (Author/LS)

This article reviews the key features of zero base budgeting as a budgeting/planning system, discusses the applications of ZBB reported in the literature, and summarizes its special benefits and problems for libraries. Fifteen references are included. (Author/RAA)

Discusses the cost-billing procedures implemented by a private company library. Formulae for billing are explained in the context of provision of commercial services at competitive market prices within a balanced budget. (JKP)

Provides a practical example of how to demonstrate the library as a cost-saving center, through evidence of financial savings on books and periodicals, facilitating a way to communicate that the net cost of the library is small. (Author/JKP)

Queueing theory is used to model processes as either waiting or balking processes. The optimal allocation of resources to these processes is defined as that which maximizes the expected value of the decision-maker's utility function. (Author)

Practical advice is offered on managing libraries during a time of declining resources. Librarians are urged to set aside the extravagant and empty rhetoric of the 60s and 70s and take a more realistic view of collections and services for users during the austere 80s. (Author/RAA)

Allocative formulas are preferred alternatives for distributing the book budget among departmental funds. Economic efficiency via cost-effectiveness analysis is suggested as potentially useful for within fund acquisition of library-resource units. (Author)

A model is presented in which the division of library resources among competing interests is based upon considerations of economic efficiency. It is argued that allocation decisions should depend upon the prospective usage rate of materials, explicit value judgments about how much such use contributes to the university's goals, and costs. (Author)

Reports on the efforts of the California State University and Colleges to develop a series of cost studies to identify and analyze specific library operations as a basis for decision-making among alternatives. (Author/PF)

This literature review focuses on methods for determining collection development requirements of a university library. Five criteria were used in the selection of titles for review: immediate relevance to university library collections and allocations; degree of emphasis on empirical methodologies; publication dates within the last 10 to 15 years;…

Library governing boards are faced with many administrative questions affecting services offered. This paper describes the operational research approach to the problem of allocation of funds to different departments of a university for purchase of materials. A linear programing model is suggested for solving the allocation problem. (5 references)…

Describes a study that used survey questionnaire and case study methodologies to compare proportional relationships among services to children, teenagers, and adults in California public libraries during fiscal years 1977-78 and 1982-83. It is concluded that the findings both support and refute the belief that youth services received limited…

Libraries have always had to determine how to allocate resources for the purpose of purchasing materials. As budgets shrink and as information becomes more open, objective methods of allocating funds become more attractive. This Clip Note examines the use of formulas in the smaller institution academic environment. It identifies elements used in…