Librarians have an alternative to providing library services with their own resources. The alternative is to purchase these services from outside contractors. The library manager must carefully consider several service and economic factors along with the range of available services. (7 references) (Author/DH)

Libraries today operate on the assumption that they are a necessary and viable social institution with a long life expectancy. However, labor productivity, automation levels, and costs are not in line with todays economic requirements. Competing information services may replace libraries by the turn of the century. (DH)

A description of the methodology used in collecting performance data in a large academic research library is given. Twelve types of surveys used to measure and evaluate users, services, and materials were developed. Costs of providing research services were found to be 64 percent versus 36 percent for instructional purposes (1 reference)…

The trend toward extensive computerization of the processes of research libraries is indicated as excessive, uncritical and inefficient. (JN)

Examines the literature of administration of library technical services from both a library and a management approach, and describes some of the activities of management sections of various library organizations. There are 27 references. (RAA)

Discussion of the development of a budget formula allocation system for library acquisitions is followed by a literature survey on the choice of variables to be included. The steps in the development of the allocation formula and the solutions to a number of practical problems are presented. (Author/RAA)

Presents statistics from the 1995 Index of American Public Library Circulation, including the index of library expenditures (salary expenditures, material expenditures, and others), adult and juvenile circulation figures, circulation per capita, expenditures per capita, expenditures per circulation, and material expenditures per capita. (LRW)

Discusses new pricing and payment options for libraries in light of online products. Topics include alternative cost models rather than traditional subscriptions; use-based pricing; changes in scholarly communication due to information technology; methods to determine appropriate charges for different organizations; consortial plans; funding; and…

Federal Communications Commission (FFC) chair Reed Hundt was interviewed regarding the criteria the FCC should adopt to determine telecommunications rate discounts for libraries. Hundt believes that while the American Library Association has been very active in communicating ideas, individual librarians have not participated enough in the process.…

Discusses the need for public libraries to improve their collections for and services to beginning readers. Suggests that public libraries should reconfigure their children's departments and budgets based on the three stages to reading fluency, of which level two is the learning to read years that includes beginning readers. (LRW)

Argues that the full cost and complexity of providing library services to support open and distance education tend to be underestimated. Three fundamental questions are addressed: Why is it necessary to determine the role of libraries in supporting learning? Who meets these costs? and How institutionally independent should access to library and…

Discusses budgeting in corporate libraries as a basic tool of financial management. Highlights include focusing on goals; developing a list or matrix of services; resources needed for each service; shared costs; types of budgets, including operating budget, capital budget, and cash budget; and approaches to budgeting, including incremental…

Summarizes the topics discussed at a series of seminars examining the problem of the high cost of research journals. Areas discussed included the extent of the crisis, coping strategies, the potential of electronic publishing, the publish or perish issue, the formation of coalitions among libraries and association and university presses, and…

Data from 1987 and 1994 for four divisions of population and figures relating sex, salaries, and library support were compared to analyze changes over time. Comparisons show that average per capita support is up, average salary is up, the number of librarians is up and the numbers of male and female library directors are nearly equal. (Author/JKP)

This proceedings contains the introduction, keynote address, panel discussion, and four papers. Topics include: role of the library and librarians in the information age, the librarian as information consultant, marketing the library to the parent organization, ownership versus access, and financial realities of providing information services in…