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…

Describes procedures developed at Western Oregon State College to rebuild a collection of standardized tests. Topics discussed include a review of pertinent literature; a faculty needs assessment survey; creation of a test database; processing procedures; circulation policies and procedures; and recommendations for test collections, including…

Discusses the impact of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) on state prison libraries. Evaluations of the LSCA are reviewed; the effectiveness of the LSCA in the areas of library budgets, staff, and book collection size is considered; and recommendations for further research are suggested. (22 references) (LRW)

Describes a longitudinal study of serial cancellations that was conducted by analyzing the cancellation lists between 1987 and 1990 from five midwestern member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries. Highlights include serial cancellation prices, language and place of publication, Library of Congress subject analysis, and collection…

This theme issue contains eight papers that were originally presented at a conference sponsored by the University of Oklahoma Libraries on library acquisitions. Highlights include budgeting problems in academic libraries; maintaining research library collections; monograph collections in scientific libraries; vendors' perspectives; electronic…

This article reviews the principal methods economists and cost benefit analysts use in evaluating research. Two common approaches are surplus measures (combinations of consumer and producer surpluses) and productivity measures. Technical difficulties and political and organizational constraints are discussed for these measures. (SLD)

Discusses the influence of electronic publishing on communication of scientific research. Topics include subscription costs; lagtime between submission and publication; peer review; attitudes of librarians and publishers; value-added features of electronic journals; copyright and licensing issues; and author collaboration. (Author/LRW)

Reports the results of a survey of librarians at public libraries (PLs) that was conducted to provide details on budgets, circulation, and popular topics. Highlights include nonfiction, with the highest expenditures and circulation; local interest materials; a loss in print reference materials; and an increase in audiovisual and electronic…

Describes the results of a survey of public libraries that was conducted to identify digital technology projects. Highlights include kinds of collections being digitized (primarily photographs); costs; hardware and software used; experience levels of personnel; reasons for digitizing, including providing access to fragile materials; and technology…

Examines definition and history of tenure. Reviews reasons offered as justification for revoking tenure: universities are expensive to operate and growth of faculty must be contained; faculty remain in profession beyond time they should retire, and as they age, become less productive; tenure protects nonproductive individuals; and composition of…

Examines the consequences of Vermont's effort to equalize school funding so that no district could spend more on its children than another district, exploring the ways in which this approach has lessened education for many, rather than improving education for the disadvantaged. Emphasizes strong public opinion about property taxes and school…

Statistical sources demonstrate negative effects on educational spending in Canada in the 1990s, due to policies adopted in response to a severe recession and ballooning federal and provincial deficits. Massive restructuring (centralization and district consolidation) is occurring to increase efficiency. Retrenchment will probably be completed by…