Discusses aspects of a good system for library employee performance appraisal, stressing the importance of treating workers as adults and making the appraisal process a two-way exchange. The role of the line supervisor and how to deal with poor performance are also addressed. (MES)

Discusses four themes related to resolving difficulties in library personnel evaluation: (1) the importance of clearly defining performance evaluation and its goals; (2) negotiation theory for dealing with negative results of personnel evaluation; (3) development of a perspective on conflict management; and (4) assertiveness as a foundation for…

Discusses the need for management information and decision support systems in libraries, and identifies inertia and confusion as the main contributors to the lack of successful implementations. An attempt to initiate a decision support system at the University of Nebraska at Omaha is described, and both problems encountered and benefits gained are…

Presents the concept of building an effectiveness pyramid to align and utilize all major aspects of a library's organization to support and improve the effectiveness of the library. Describes the three levels of the pyramid and how they relate to library effectiveness: the individual; enabling skills and tools; and organizational structure and…

Discusses communication theory and practice for public library administrators. The purposes and necessity of information are examined, the attitudes and awareness of administrators and staff are discussed, obstacles to internal communication are described, and how to conduct a communications audit to appraise an existing communication system is…

Discusses the use of total quality management (TQM) principles in libraries. Topics addressed include commitment from the library director; strategic planning; training needs for library staff; the identification and selection of targeted areas that would benefit from TQM; quality improvement teams; analysis; proposed solutions; and evaluation…

Six articles discuss the need for improved training of library personnel and strategies for attaining this goal. Areas discussed include training objectives, training methods, the role of library education, staff development at Indiana State University, the role of library management, and the creation of effective training methods. (CLB)

Highlights events of the Library Administration and Management Association 1988 conference, including presentation of awards and programs on: (1) transfer of training; (2) hiring; (3) mentoring; (4) acquisitions automation; (5) library building consultation; and (6) managing shared systems. (MES)

Discusses the use of employee opinion surveys in libraries to assess the organizational climate. Topics addressed include identifying employee attitudes and levels of satisfaction; administrative commitment; the use of outside consultants; types of questionnaires; the necessity for confidentiality; analyzing the survey data; and feedback to…

Considers appropriate responses that public library leaders should be making in an environment of technological change. Topics discussed include the library mission and its role in dealing productively with change; library leadership in local government; community information; integrating technology into library management and operations; library…

Discussion of the merger of separate library units focuses on examples from Indiana State University Libraries' recent merging of the interlibrary loan unit of the reference department with the circulation department to form a new lending services department. Factors to consider in the merging process are discussed, emphasizing staff needs. (seven…

Reviews the literature concerning upward evaluation of supervisors and directors in libraries and suggests that upward evaluation can aid professional development. Research at the University of Texas at Austin is highlighted, and pilot research at Western Kentucky University libraries that used job analysis to develop a questionnaire for…

Presents a quantitative method for implementing management by objectives (MBO) in library technical services. Several mathematical formulas show the relationships between such variables as: (1) volume of works; (2) total materials budget; (3) number of staff; (4) working hours; (5) productivity; and (6) tasks. (four references) (MES)

Discusses the problem of keeping library staff motivated when promotions are not available. Topics addressed include the importance of management training that emphasizes communication skills; alternative ways to help employees grow, including staff development programs, lateral transfers, job rotation, and short-term projects; and helpful…

Although telecommuting has been found to increase productivity and morale in business environments, libraries rarely consider it. This article discusses telecommuting's potential impact on contact with users, length of employment, job descriptions, budgets, management style, communication, and workflow. This option may help libraries retain older…