The literature suggests that children's library services have declined because librarians have neglected to document, evaluate, and measure their programs. The collection of such data would help strengthen their position with administrators who are dealing with financial stringency. Suggestions are offered to help counteract the decline of…

Communication between library patrons and staff is accomplished through a suggestion box and a "Talk Back" bulletin board where all replies to questions are posted. (JAB)

Procedures for developing quantitative measures of reference service are described. Through individual interviews, researchers compiled a list of 93 activities performed by the staff. Each activity was evaluated by the staff in four categories: importance, interest, complexity, confidence. (JAB)

Discussion of application of cost benefit analysis (CBA) accounting techniques to libraries highlights user willingness to be charged for services provided, reasons why CBA will not work in library settings, libraries and budgets, cost distribution on basis of presumed or expected use, implementation of information-seeking behavior control, and…

The first of two articles provides an introduction to this issue. The second article discusses the key issues in rare book librarianship over the past 50 years, including acquisition, care, handling, storage, preservation, cataloging, classifying, processing, circulation, security, and training. Both references and a 77-item bibliography are…

Describes some of the children's services and creative means for stretching the budget to provide these services at the Peoria (Illinois) Public Library. Topics include (1) use of volunteers; (2) acquisition of materials through donations; (3) guest speakers; and (4) solicitation of prizes and reading incentives from businesses and agencies. (MES)

Description of the planning and implementation of a microcomputer-based local area network in the Northbrook (Illinois) Public Library highlights: (1) applying for a grant; (2) network design; (3) the bidding process; (4) installation; (5) implementing the network; and (6) problems and cautions. (MES)

Outlines development of business and library management in western countries, management approaches in China in general, and Chinese library and information services in particular. Suggestions for improvement of Chinese library services address geographic distribution, regional cooperation, national referral services, open access, publicity,…

This article enumerates factors which created demand for fee-based information service (commercial databases, competition for proprietary information in business world, effectiveness of librarians) and relates experiences at two public libraries. Sources of business, value of advertising, techniques of selling, and hiring and deployment of staff…

Describes use of paperback books, displays, and programs in public and school libraries. List of display rack manufacturers is included. (KP)

Summarizes the state of school library development in selected countries in Africa, Europe, the South Pacific, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. (PF)

A plan is outlined to provide Caracas with 23 public libraries by the year 2000. (Author/PF)

Traces the traditional method of making books accessible through their topical arrangement on library shelves, outlines the reasons for the abandonment of this method in European research libraries, explores its modified reappearance in postwar academic libraries, and cites modern arguments against the practice of making an entire research…

This paper provides an overview of library statistics as they relate to the value of library services. The first section reviews the Australian national think tank on library statistics, held in 1990. The second section examines the overall state of library statistics in Australia, focusing on deficiencies related to the lack of a central…

This theme issue contains the following articles on libraries as agencies of culture: (1) "American Libraries and Agencies of Culture" (Thomas Augst); (2) "The Sound of the Civic: Reading Noise at the New York Public Library" (Ari Kelman); (3) "High Culture, Low Culture: The Singular Duality of the Library of Congress" (Elizabeth Jane Aikin); (4)…