This master plan for Colorado academic libraries assesses current strengths and weaknesses of public and private academic libraries in the state and forecasts the role of academic libraries in support of higher education. The plan consists of a series of recommendations divided into six related and overlapping sections: access, collection…

This paper addresses the concept of the communication audit, i.e., a fact-finding analysis, interpretation, and reporting process that studies the communication philosophy, structure, flow, and practice of the organization. Reasons for doing a communication audit are identified: (1) to uncover information blockages and organizational hindrances;…

To gather information on current catalog maintenance practices, researchers selected institutions from respondents to the September 1984 version of the OMS (Office of Management Studies) Automation Inventory of Research Libraries. A telephone survey of technical services and systems staff at 23 libraries investigated a wide range of issues related…

This report of a study of the Ayres Memorial Library, undertaken to develop action-oriented plans to improve its performance, is organized in three main sections: situational analysis, needs assessment, and action planning. The first section provides the institutional and library profiles and descriptions of the library and higher education…

This textbook on library management techniques is concerned with basic management problems. Examples of problems in planning, organization, and coordination are drawn from situations in libraries or information centers. After an introduction to library management, the history of management is covered. Several styles of management and organization…

Describes the management principles used by the Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Library to develop information services that support the agency's mission. The discussion outlines the steps involved in an action plan for making a special library a major focal point for organizational information services. (CLB)

Describes an evaluation of variability in the percentage of subject searching in an online catalog among branch libraries of one university. The results reported include variability by time of day, day of week, and week of semester. The value of this type of information for library administration is discussed. (CLB)

Discusses areas of confusion concerning the role of public libraries that endanger the existence of public libraries. It is argued that the future of the public library depends on its responsiveness to the needs of the people that such libraries were created to serve, and suggestions for achieving this state are offered. (CLB)

Based on experiences at Brandeis University libraries, and findings from management literature, a discussion (with figures) is presented on the challenges faced by libraries in integrating technology and information services. Reviews reasons why change is needed, examines information services as a team-based approach, and presents management…

Discusses influences that electronic technologies are having on academic libraries. Highlights include the combination of computer technology and telecommunications; the impact of integrated systems; adding value to information through the use of workstations and online databases; teaching and learning roles of librarians; library user fees; and…

Literature analysis indicates that surveys are not widely used in the planning process for academic libraries because of difficulties with design of user studies, translation of survey results into management decisions, and acceptance of survey data by librarians. Trends such as competition from private information sources will force a change in…

Discussion of cultural diversity in a rapidly changing population focuses on efforts at the San Jose Public Library to respond to cultural and demographic changes. Obstacles to responding are reviewed as well as positive responses, which include creation of policy statements, developing goals and objectives, administrative reorganization, and…

Chronicles the process of change begun at the Harvard College Library in 1990. Key factors are analyzed, including support from the University Library, Association of Research Libraries, and Council on Library Resources; strong leadership; organizational development; composition of task forces; time frame; concurrent changes; and development of a…

Presents budgeting requirements that are needed to meet the electronic library needs in small- and medium-sized academic libraries based on library automation activities at Southern Methodist University (Texas) and a review of the literature. Highlights include cooperative ventures; fund raising; personnel needs; benefits of automation; strategic…

Discusses special aspects of East Asian collections and explores how organizational changes in academic libraries affect them, based on experiences at the University of Arizona. Considers total quality management; continuous quality improvement; teamwork; staffing changes; specialization versus generalization; budgetary restraints and cost…