This article reports on the newly revamped version of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), the nation's largest electronic education library. ERIC made its debut last September with promises of more offerings to come from the federal project. In the move to upgrade and streamline ERIC, the Department of Education shut down the 16…

Libraries are integrating Web 2.0 services into work practices, positioning themselves in online social environments, and deploying enhanced search and discovery tools. Collections conversely are not progressing to the same degree. Like many public services today, library budgets are stained. User-pay options are appearing in library systems,…

In 2005, the American Association of School Librarians' Independent Schools Section conducted a national survey of independent school libraries. This article analyzes the results of the survey, reporting specialized data and information regarding independent school library budgets, collections, services, facilities, and staffing. Additionally, the…

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to describe the practical experience of managing e-books in an academic library. Design/methodology/approach: An overview of the three main e-book collections used (netLibrary, Taylor & Francis, and Ebook Library via Dawson) is provided, along with details such as the acquisition, cataloguing and…

This article considers two components identified as essential to effective academic library Websites--satisfaction of user needs and adherence to university Website guidelines--and how they sometimes contradict one another. A literature review is provided, followed by results of a survey the author created and distributed that measures a…

With the pileup of responsibilities that range from programming to outreach to web management, more and more librarians are finding vendor-based book selection enticing. Most librarians see vendor-based selection as an option to relieve the pressure and still provide good collections to their patrons. However, using vendors to help facilitate…

In truth, many resources are removed from the collection because one parent complained, or in some cases, because it was feared that a parent would complain. It is, therefore, helpful when questions are raised about a resource to clarify the circumstances. In this article, the author discusses on what to do when resources are being questioned or…

As demands on libraries continue to grow, outpacing budget increases, more librarians are forced to make difficult decisions about what materials and services stay and go. Charles R. McClure has written that many librarians use an "adhocracy" method to make these decisions, relying on no data or simple aggregates in determining a course of action.…

Libraries of government departments provide information to policymakers, to government staff and employees, and, sometimes, to the general public. It is essential that libraries of government departments are organised and managed so as to collect and provide the information most needed by government decision makers, government workers, and the…

Issues 266 through 282 of "Fast Facts" from the Library Research Service present data collected from libraries in Colorado and throughout the nation. Topics addressed in these "Fast Facts" from 2009 include interlibrary loan in academic libraries, public librarian salaries, book, newspaper, and periodical prices from 2004 to…

To administer successfully one must start at the beginning and consider actual events in the organization, events not dictated by administrative behavior but by individual behavior. (Author)

In a bibliographic essay, participation in management is explored. (PF)

Reviews the principles of the Theory Y approach, reports upon its coverage in library literature, distinguishes between the concepts of Theory Y and participative management, and discusses how Theory Y's application in a small academic library recommends its use for library operations in general. (Author)

Discusses the ideal goals and the real problems involved in running a prison library. (PF)

This paper presents general advice, illustrated by examples from the experience of the state of Ohio, on the use of written agreements, contracts, and the competitive bidding process, and indicates the benefits they can bring to a number of areas in library purchasing. Examples are concerned with the procurement of general supplies, binding…