Summarizes major problems in school financial management and suggests practical improvements to aid external reporting of financial data and internal management. Sections of the article describe these categories of problems: (1) budget presentation; (2) management control; (3) cost accounting; and (4) financial reporting. (PS)

Describes the partnership between the public and private sectors in developing and marketing the ERIC database in CD-ROM format. Particular emphasis is given to the marketing research and protocols of partnership that were developed. (Author/CLB)

A review of the library literature on personnel turnover and the costs involved in replacing personnel provides background information for a model designed to determine the costs involved in hiring an academic librarian. This model is based on the experiences of a specific library. (CLB)

Examines a "Forbes" cover story on educational expenditures that poses questions related to three current research guidelines for educational finance: adequacy, equity, and efficiency. Different "production functions" must be sought for children of differing family backgrounds. Without adequate education, the world's armies,…

A study of New York proprietary schools estimated the cost of state regulations to proprietary schools and the impact of attending these schools on students' incomes. The results are intended to persuade states to limit regulation of proprietary schools and to provide consumer information on proprietary school outcomes. (CH)

Compares OCLC, WLN, and RLIN in terms of the composition of the databases, indexes and searching, special uses for public services, costs, and documentation. Selected bibliographies of general public service uses and interlibrary loan applications are provided. (CLB)

Program theory can be used to improve programs and policies. This article describes a set of techniques for complicating and simplifying program theory, referred to as conceptual and action heuristics. Methods such as analyzing metaphors, clarifying concepts, mapping, component assessment, causal modeling, and decision analysis are discussed. (JAZ)

Detailed profiles and comparisons of European databanks being marketed in the United States include marketing strategies, subject content, number and types of databases offered, cost information, value added services, and more. Users' views of the viability, ease of use, and strengths and weaknesses of European databases are presented. (CLB)

Six papers on the use and usefulness of program evaluation conducted inside government institutions by government staff, rather than by outside contractors or university personnel, are presented. Federal, state, and local evaluation efforts in executive and legislative environments are analyzed. (TJH)

Describes the recent history of technical services organizations with an emphasis on their labor intensive approach, and offers alternative solutions to technical services staffing needs. Methods suggested include changes that will result in smaller staffs, greater reliance on clerks and paraprofessionals, and a shift of funding to public service…

Reports a study which investigated whether the thought processes of grade 12 economics students affected the level of economic reasoning used in resolving time-allocation dilemmas. Concludes that seniors trained in cost-benefit analysis used significantly higher economic reasoning when resolving high perceived familiarity time-allocation dilemmas.…

Twenty-three mentally retarded workshop clients were assigned to experimental or control groups in a 10-day intervention. The introduction of music as a reinforcer and elimination of distractions were among easily implemented, cost-effective program changes which resulted in significantly higher productivity rates for the experimental groups.…

A parent-aide program using volunteers (experienced mothers) to support abusing parents and prevent reabuse of children proved 97 percent effective in Southern Adelaide, South Australia. The cost-benefit ratio of the program appeared very low and the reabuse rate was less than for other clients assessed during the five-year review period.…

To establish a sophisticated planning mechanism that will translate readily to affordable tactical steps, university planners must have a good understanding of the cost structure of individual academic and administrative departments and of the efficiency and effectiveness of the staffs of those departments. (MLW)

Describes and compares three versions of the ERIC database that are available on optical data disks: (1) DIALOG OnDisc ERIC; (2) OCLC Search CD450; and (3) SilverPlatter ERIC. The database contents, software and search commands, hardware requirements, notable features, and costs of each version are discussed. (CLB)