Assessment in United States higher education has become very important in recent years. Virtually all colleges and universities are now striving to prove through empirical evidence that they are committed to improving student learning. Created in late 2005, the US Department of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education was charged…

Shared leadership theory recognizes leader influence throughout the organization, not just from the top down. This study explores how middle managers from 22 academic libraries in the Pacific West perceive their own agreement, participation and recognition of shared leadership. This survey and framework is the first to examine the extent shared…

This paper surveys the history and development of some of the major theories and concepts of leadership: (1) the trait approach--research focusing on personality characteristics presumed to set leaders apart from others; (2) leader behavior--what leaders actually do; and (3) situational variables--characteristics of the particular situation.…

Surveys the history of the library board as a means of governance for public libraries, reviews research on the administrative effectiveness of library boards, identifies some of the major problems with the library board system, and proposes some possible solutions to these problems. A 26-item bibliography is attached. (JL)

Describes operations research as an important management tool that can aid library managers in effectively using available resources and as a set of analytical tools that can enable researchers to better understand library and information services. Early history, definition, models, applications to libraries, and impact are noted. Twenty-five…

Examines the role of research in assisting library managers to operate libraries more effectively. Strategies for research and for library managers to better create and use research are suggested; conceptual and practical issues that affect research utilization are discussed; and the need for improved efforts by both library managers and…

This article reviews major contributions to participatory management theory (formal involvement of people besides administrators in the governance of an institution of which they are a part); examines the arguments of library proponents and critics of the theory; and draws conclusions about its application in libraries. Thirty-one references are…

Identifies and summarizes the findings of almost 60 research studies, both before and after 1970, of public library service to children and young adults pertaining to administration, public library use, and services and programs. Current trends and research needs are also discussed, and 63 references and a bibliography are included. (RBF)

Reviews major topics involved in governance of academic libraries in a rapidly changing environment: (1) the academic environment and the library--organizational characteristics of both institutions; (2) academic governance patterns; (3) librarians and governance--faculty status, faculty status and governance, unions and governance, modifying the…

Identifies research topics related to outcomes assessment in a networked environment and discusses issues affecting these topics. Proposes a framework to relate traditional evaluation components and terminology to the networked environment and identifies factors in the networked environment that affect assessment methods. Suggests outcomes…

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…

Reviews articles related to school library media programs that were published in journals intended for other members of the profession and involved research. Subject areas include administration, roles of the school library media specialist, and reading. (LRW)

Research on public libraries is conducted in library and information science schools, commercial firms, state library agencies, research institutes, and some public libraries and library systems. While a number of library science professionals demand research, there appears to be a lack of the communication of research results so that they may be…

The derivation of the concept of participative management from a variety of complementary managerial and motivational theories, and its acceptance and use as a managerial technique in library administration are reviewed in detail. The major contributions to the development of the concept of participative management, including Maslow's hierarchy of…

Research on the effects of collective bargaining by library clerical workers indicates that effects are often less dramatic than expected, and that there does not appear to be a single "union effect." Although one study found hefty gains for library workers with collective bargaining agreements, other studies have found no significant gains by the…