Describes four library retreats held by the Bowling Green State University library staff from 1995 to 1998. The retreats reflect changes in library work and management theory that have occurred. The importance of technology to library work is recognized, but there is also a growing realization of the importance of developing a flexible staff…

Discusses the managerial, business, and personal skills that will be needed for acquisitions librarians to remain central to the virtual library. Considers the issues of self-leadership, management, and survival in a continual state of change, and the need for creativity and innovation, as well as more traditional skills. (Author/AEF)

Provides background and context for the issue of outsourcing. Illustrates the practice as it exists in libraries. Offers a model for analyzing outsourcing alternatives and a scenario for testing the model, and suggests alternate approaches for management. (Contains 52 references.) (AEF)

Addresses the problems of how theft in libraries and archives is discovered, the proper aims of any recovery plan, actions that must included in the recovery plan, and the impact of a theft and recovery effort on the department. Offers concrete solutions vital to any recovery effort. (AEF)

Presents information on law enforcement relating to library crimes. Discusses jurisdiction, reporting a loss, law enforcement response, law enforcement's expectations, suspects, publicity, the aftermath, and testimony in court. (AEF)

Provides a framework of topics that should be covered by a policy manual on cooperative reference services. It is organized into sections on mission statement, administration, delivery of services, and evaluation of services, and is intended for use in conjunction with existing RASD (Reference and Adult Services Division) documents. (Author)

Discusses personnel management and personnel evaluation. Highlights include personnel manager traits; performance improvement; effective leadership; supervisory styles; examining staff skills, including human skills, technical skills, and conceptual skills; increasing productivity; and identifying problem areas in job performance and possible…

Presents results of interviewing administrators, deans, and unit heads of budget departments of 20 public universities to determine each university's micropolitical budget strategy. Six propositions relating to budget strategies were identified; each is described with a summary of findings and a discussion of its relevance for library…

Discusses the need for strong leadership in libraries. Topics include the distinction between management and leadership; myths about leadership; leading change; expected qualities of effective leaders, including creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, planning, and communicating; and librarian's opportunities for leadership development. (LRW)

Describes the role and activities of Susan Kent, City Librarian of Los Angeles, who was named librarian of the year by Library Journal. Discusses political aspects; improving and expanding Los Angeles Public Library branches; public and private funding; the staff and union issues; national and international organizations; and career influences.…

Presents a rationale for keeping the school library media center's vertical files. Discusses reasons related to: student accessibility, supplement to the school curricula, local topics, and limited financial resources. Outlines ten guidelines for maintaining a useful and current file collection. (AEF)

One of the hardest administrative duties for teacher-librarians seems to be collection development. One would think that the selection of books would be effortless, especially with the number of online bookstores offering used book discounts or free shipping for large orders. Deepening budget cuts and limited or untrained staff means collection…

We need fewer public libraries with greater dependence. Here at the beginning of the 21st century, public libraries are still saddled with a 19th-century model of government. They are far too beholden to governing authorities, usually municipal or county governments, for their financial sustenance. This is a formula for mediocrity. "Local control"…

Management literature appearing in "Library Quarterly," 1931-2004, is examined in this essay. A total of 145 articles are identified that focus on administrative and managerial issues related to libraries during this period. Management literature is construed expansively and includes accounting, administration, assessment, budgets, facilities,…

It has long been commonplace in reading studies to say that despite the efforts of authors, publishers, censors, and others to restrict access to print culture, readers evade those restrictions and exert control over their reading. This control can take many forms, from obtaining banned books to interpretive practices that subvert intended…