Explores the distinguishing characteristics of the liberal arts college and their meanings for the library director. Telephone interviews with nine liberal arts college library directors who had significant previous experience in a research university library focused on their expectations, what they liked/disliked most about the position, and what…

Academic libraries, like many consumer businesses in the "for-profit sector," may expect to experience discomfort as they embark on a transition stage between old and new ways of operating. The challenge for academic library directors is to successfully navigate challenges of implementing performance-based pay concepts and cultural…

Discusses users' expectations of academic libraries and suggests that a commitment to making the library a learning organization will result in improved library staff and strengthened services. Topics include technological changes; the role of innovation in learning organizations, including systems thinking, mental models, and team learning; and…

Considers the cost of employing student temporary workers in academic libraries and suggests they be replaced with fewer full-time staff. Topics include the trend toward contingent, or temporary, employment; management problems; core employees; cost effectiveness of student employment, including poor productivity and training needs; and evaluating…

Presents a brief summary of Cooperative Economic Game Theory, followed by a summary of specific measures identified by Nash, Shapley, and Harsanyi. Reviews contexts in which negotiation and cooperation among libraries is of special economic importance, and for two of these contexts-cooperative acquisitions and cooperative automation-illustrates…

Reviews issues relating to database technology and digital libraries. Highlights include resource sharing; ongoing digital library projects; metadata; user interfaces; query processing; interoperability; data quality; copyright infringement; and managerial implications, including electronic versus printed materials, accessibility,…

Responds to an article that argued that the Internet is causing college libraries to reduce their resources. Suggests the library's role as a service provider cannot be supplanted by the Internet. Offers advice for increasing campus library usage, including librarian and faculty partnerships. (NB)

Describes issues raised during a major reorganization and consolidation of reference services at Oregon State University. Attitudes of reference librarians and library administrators are reported, steps involved in the reorganization are outlined, and reactions from faculty are discussed with emphasis on the need for cooperation between librarians…

Discussion of management of cataloging backlogs in academic libraries focuses on a backlog assessment project conducted at the Ohio State University libraries to facilitate the elimination of two backlogs, one of Slavic language materials and one of general materials. Evaluations of samples from these two collections are discussed in terms of…

Describes the development and administration of archives in Australian universities, and discusses problems relating to financial support, staffing, space allocation, placement, and management. The outlook for the future of archives in Australia is then examined, focusing on financial support and the role of the government in encouraging…

Describes a study that (1) compared the amount of professional input into the decision-making process between board administered and municipally integrated public libraries, and (2) examined the relationships between levels of centralization (participation in decision making and hierarchy of authority), complexity (occupational specialties,…

Six articles discuss library buildings and construction: (1) library buildings and their parts; (2) the North Campus Library of California State University at Long Beach in 1995; (3) new structures for teaching libraries; (4) construction standards for California public libraries; (5) Sick (Library) Building Syndrome; and (6) using focus-group…

Describes a study that examined the flow of information to and from small- and medium-sized public libraries. The findings reported concern the relationships between library size and perceptions of library directors with respect to the effectiveness of various information sources, communication channels, and feedback methods. (seven references)…

Highlights new legal theories and precedents applicable to employment practices used in the library setting. Illustrative case law and law review commentaries are provided for civil rights, discrimination on the basis of a handicap, wrongful discharge, privacy, age discrimination, equal pay, immigration control, retirement benefits, and…

Discusses a five-point approach for library media specialists about school-based management. The approach includes establishing priorities for the school library media program, developing strong community support and a public relations program, creating a support staff within the school, refining human relations, and using creative scheduling and…