This document provides case studies that represent a sampling of successful public library joint ventures in California and other U.S. cities and counties. Chapter 1 defines what a partnership is and how a joint venture differs from a partnership. It also describes the benefits of partnering, the knowledge, attitude, and skills required, and how…

This paper describes a two-year study by the British Library Research and Innovation Centre that examined the potential of self-assessment for public library services. The approaches that formed the basis for the investigation were the Business Excellence Model, the Quality Framework, and the Democratic Approach. Core values were identified by…

This paper discusses cooperation between hospital and public libraries in France. The first section provides an overview of hospital libraries, including historical and regulatory background, as well as the current situation. The second section considers the network of public libraries, including increasing awareness of the duty to provide all…

This paper gives an overview of activities related to access to information about women that have been undertaken by librarians and other information professionals worldwide over the past decade. The first section addresses access issues, including bias in traditional cataloging/classification practices and controlled vocabularies. The second…

Program evaluation is about measurement, but it is also about making meaning of those things quantified. This booklet aims at providing guidance for school library media specialists in doing both. It offers brief comments about each of the following areas and provides some concrete tools for the evaluator's use when needed: Organization…

This 1998-99 annual report for the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives begins with messages from the state Cabinet Secretary of Education, Arts and Humanities and the State Librarian and Commissioner. The department's mission statement, vision statement, and core values/guiding principles are then presented. Objectives and focus group…

In the first edition of this book, the concepts of marketing and planning library and information services were presented as effective managerial strategies. Several paragraphs from the introduction to the first edition are reproduced, with author commentary, in this edition as an affirmation that the message is still true. In this second edition,…

Many academic and research libraries are in the midst of what may ultimately be a major transition for various parts of their collection--a shift from print to electronic format. Libraries that had long subscribed only to print versions of journals are, in increasing numbers, licensing electronic versions to replace the print. What effects will…

An experienced librarian suggests library sources for students investigating technical education programs within a framework of questions which students typically ask librarians; for instance, "Where can I obtain employable skills in a short time?" (Ten publications which answer this particular question are described; more are listed in an…

A two-week library unit of an introductory history course is profiled. The purpose of the unit is to familiarize the students with both the general and specialized resources available to them. (DH)

An experimental, independent study, history course is described by its designer who desired to evoke some enthusiasm for the study of history. His three basic guidelines were: (1) the library is the best classroom, (2) class activities should center around learning experiences, and (3) course content should be relevant to student needs. (7…

A file management system provides a powerful search tool for library reference groups. The system described produces current awareness and retrospective searches from diverse data bases. The same query language is used to interrogate all data bases in on-line or batch mode searches. (4 references) (Author/DH)

This is a three part listing of currently available bibliographies covering the multiethnic media. Included are bibliographic essays with criteria for selection; bibliographies listing material for children and young adults and sources of information about new materials. (71 references) (DH)

A simplified scheme for cataloging and classifying state and municipal documents is now in use at the State University of New York at Albany, employing double Cutter numbers to designate documents by state and agency. A consistent scheme for subject and state Cuttering makes possible both subject and agency approaches. (2 references) (Author/DH)

The subjects of these metropolitan public library study summaries include: book-selection and purchasing, commercial libraries, library research in developing countries; international understanding through literature, international school for library services, statistics, staffing formulas, and facilities and service of selected libraries.…