Examines the cost effectiveness of using CD-ROM encyclopedias in school libraries; finds print encyclopedias to be cheaper, but advocates the use of both. Sidebars include price comparisons of popular print and CD-ROM encyclopedias. (AEF)

Discussion of the relationship between public library directors and the board of trustees highlights the library trustee and director survey that was conducted in Pennsylvania in 1994 to identify potential areas of conflict. Topics include the effect of library size, library planning, policy development, purchasing decisions, personnel issues, and…

Describes the development of a toy library in Gosford (Australia). Discusses community support, state and local funding and expenditures, planning loan procedures, the catalog, presentation and storage, classification, the official opening, and staff support and community reaction. (AEF)

Limited financial resources of colleges and universities make it more important than ever to develop a coordinated, institution-wide process to link academic priorities and expenditures with the technological infrastructure necessary to support objectives. Trade-offs must be made across the institution rather than simply within the traditional…

Evaluates the achievement levels of students in the top 50 and bottom 50 Ohio school districts in terms of amount spent per pupil on instruction and the proportion of instructional expenditures committed to the school libraries. Results indicate that a positive correlation exists between commitment to the library through funding and student…

Discusses Indiana-Marion County Public Library's decision to implement centralized collection selection and to hire a collection development librarian. Benefits of centralized selection include the decentralization of subject materials and the consequent broadening of subject materials at branch libraries. Selection depends upon a knowledge of the…

Studying school district spending in New York State revealed that districts increased real expenditures per pupil by 46% between 1980 and 1992. A large portion of the spending has gone to disabled students. Also discussed are the growth in administrative expenditures, responses to changing enrollments, and teacher compensation. (SLD)

An econometric model of library reference service is suggested for revision and improvement of current services. Discussion focuses on costs and budgets, expanding needs, and community support. (AEF)

Discusses serials cancellations; reviews library collection assessment policies and reasons for assessment studies; describes a survey of academic health sciences libraries that examined serials cancellation projects, including the decision-making process, regional or national cooperation, and the methodology used; and explains a generic serials…

Describes a library cataloging project at the Ukranian Museum of Canada in Saskatoon. Topics discussed include the initial collection assessment, preliminary planning, funding, staffing, objectives during the first and second years, copy cataloging using the UTLAS system, original cataloging, distribution of the museum's catalog, and future needs.…

Presents five charts that compare data for elementary schools and secondary schools for (1) the average cost of paperback books, (2) the average cost of hardcover books, (3) the average cost of a periodical subscription, and (4) the index of inflation; plus (5) a chart that shows the average cost of hardbound textbooks. (LRW)

A true adequacy model is emerging, a system of school finance that links resources and outcomes to ensure that all students receive an adequate education. Implementing true adequacy would require school districts to adopt high minimum goals, identify necessary resources, and have a long-range investment plan for deploying resources and developing…

Discusses 108 new building and 148 addition and/or renovation projects in public and academic libraries completed in 1994. Highlights include statistics on building costs and book and seating capacity; summaries of construction costs for the past six years; and an alphabetical list of architects and their addresses. (KRN)

Discusses a study conducted by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) which examined the federally funded research system and the role of data for decision making in research policy. Highlights include data needs; research expenditures and personnel; the research process; measuring the outcomes of research; and the research evaluation process.…

Examination of 19 school district consolidations in 10 states, 1980-84, revealed that, of 6 expenditure categories, only administration showed significant savings 3 years after consolidation, when compared to changes in state average costs during that period. Changes in other expenditure categories varied widely among districts. Contains 22…