Intended to foster a common language for information exchange about library operations and resources, this handbook provides library managers, boards of trustees, and other library decisionmakers with guidance in identifying items of information from which to obtain factual and comparative data for (1) developing policies and decisions; (2) communicating with constituencies, legislative bodies, and governing organizations; and (3) fulfilling information requests of external agencies. Its scope comprises basic management information needs in academic, public, school, and special library communities. Information is structured and classified according to three basic categories--library environment, library resources, and library programs--and the terms are listed in tables that provide a code number and a page reference to a glossary where each is defined. A chapter that provides general guidelines and suggestions for data collection and use is also included. The appendix acknowledges all of the people and organizations that were involved in the project, and an index provides access to both the classification and definition of terms, as well as "see also" references. (Author/JD)