This timely special report from ALA Editions provides a succinct but comprehensive overview of the "privatization" of public libraries. It provides a history of the trend of local and state governments privatizing public services and assets, and then examines the history of public library privatization right up to the California…

With their explosive sales and widespread availability over the past few years, e-books have definitively proven that they're here to stay. In this sequel to her best-selling book of the same title, expert Polanka dives even deeper into the world of digital distribution. Contributors from across the e-book world offer their perspectives on what's…

In this fully updated revision, expert instructor and librarian Peggy Johnson addresses the art in controlling and updating your library's collection. Each chapter offers complete coverage of one aspect of collection development, including suggestions for further reading and a narrative case study exploring the issue. Johnson also integrates…

This textbook attempts to introduce the case study method into the curriculum for training librarians. Cases are written with emphases on a stable activity-authority environment, good management and planning, proper response to internal and external demands, and complex business game situations. Many cases are intended for role playing use. (EMH)

The teacher of library science can use case studies, simulations, and role playing to acquaint future librarians with the realities of library management. By using models, contextual statements, incident materials, and course management materials, the students can be involved in specific library problems which will later have broad on-the-job…

This book, written by a number of library professionals, familiarizes the reader with the motives for and purposes of evaluation and the major contexts and models for evaluation and provides explicit examples how evaluation projects have been and can be carried out in a variety of library contexts. The strategies in this book grew from the S:OLE…

This manual provides librarians and library managers with a performance appraisal system that measures staff fairly and objectively and links performance to the goals of the library. The following topics are addressed: (1) identifying expectations for quality service or standards of performance; (2) the importance of a library's code of service,…

This case study of the libraries at Columbia University analyzes the libraries against the backdrop of contemporary trends in higher education. New management styles and approaches to the utilization of professional personnel are recommended. The report presents detailed suggestions for implementing the change recommendations. (KB)

The primary purpose of this book it to assist library directors and those who want to become fundraisers for libraries to learn more about fundraising and find answers to their questions. The 12 case studies presented in this book address issues of building a major gift program; developing library capital campaigns; competing for National…

This collection of essays focuses on group social and political action as it relates to libraries and their environments. The introduction discusses the group-concept approach to studying library and information science. The essays are case studies of interest group politics, including: (1) the imprisonment of a librarian who refused to give…

This book provides a format for taking information traditionally collected by library media specialists and showing how it can be used to examine existing programs or to document the need for a program change. Field-tested in several school districts, this new tool includes all the necessary forms and worksheets school media specialists will need…

Since 1989, the Reference and User Services Association/Management and Operation of User Services Section's Management of Reference Committee has successfully used case studies to foster structured discussions among public service librarians on a wide variety of issues relating to managing change in reference services. The information offered in…

This handbook is a guide to the complex process of library facility siting and location. It includes relevant research and professionals' siting experiences, as well as actual case studies of closures, openings, mergers, and relocations of library facilities. While the bulk of the volume provides practical information, the work also presents an…

This book provides insight into how managers of federally sponsored libraries view their roles and carry out their duties. Seven federally supported libraries were selected to serve as case studies. These libraries represent a cross-section of various types, and the nine chapters are written by librarians from these facilities. The discussion…

This book is the result of a set of case studies that were performed in four American public libraries between 1989 and 1992. The goal of the research was to describe the effect that planning has had in a representative set of libraries, focusing planning as a social phenomenon. The city, county, federated, and suburban library are examined.…