A successful director must delegate authority and manage available resources to allow time for legal affairs, lobbying, public speaking, and community and institutional involvement. (RAA)

In Texas, public library advisory boards are a recent innovation that have developed as a result of the Council-Manager form of government. This handbook is a response to that development as a compilation of information on the most efficient roles and functions of advisory boards. An advisory board is appointed by the governing body of which the…

Discusses the Benton Foundation's report on the public's opinions of library leaders' visions for the future. Highlights include public libraries in the digital age; the competitive information environment; education about and access to information; roles of the public library; changing demographics; importance to minorities; collaboration with…

The 16 articles in this issue focus on planning for future trends in public library administration. Topics discussed include leadership qualities; administrator education; collective bargaining; funding and budgeting; governance; user fees; collection management; community involvement and support; special population groups; services to educational…

The use of volunteers in special libraries is advocated in this report, which cites positive reasons for including volunteers among the library staff. (Bringing on volunteers during a budget crunch is not considered to be a positive reason.) The special library's relationship with the larger organization's volunteer department is mentioned as a…

Describes policies and services developed by public libraries to deal with the needs of both latchkey children and unattended adolescents. Issues addressed include students' rights to recreational activities, community involvement in library programs, patron conduct and supervision, and balancing the needs of all library patrons. (CLB)

Discussion of strategies that public libraries can use to better serve minority patrons focuses on Hispanic users. Topics addressed include defining the Hispanic community; hiring appropriate staff that speak Spanish; becoming involved in community groups; outreach programs; and cataloging foreign language materials. (Contains 13 references.) (LRW)

Librarians tend to view themselves as agents, advocates, or promoters of educational and cultural processes, and these functions are important; but rural librarians can and should play a broader role in the community, including a role in community development activities. As information specialists, librarians have access to critical resources for…

This issue provides a detailed overview of the Illinois literacy effort, including committee lists, project proposal forms, rules and regulations, financial support information, and a chronology of events. Several articles focus on the planning and implementation of literacy programs and the role of the library in literacy education. (CLB)

Reviews the role of public libraries in adult literacy and lifelong learning in the 25 years since the signing of the Adult Education Act. Discusses collaborative projects with other government agencies, and the public library's unique role of welcoming patrons whatever their educational needs might be. (43 references/notes) (EA)

Discussion of library activities at the Bensenville (Illinois) Public Library to promote lifelong learning focuses on services to the Hispanic community, including defining the target audience; family literacy programs, including home visits to help explain and promote library activities; and community involvement. (LRW)

Examines health concerns affecting African Americans, and presents an annotated bibliography of 22 resources written for African Americans and arranged under the subheadings of general information, statistical data, keeping healthy, AIDS, social issues, community involvement, reference sources, periodicals, and databases. (LRW)

Suggests tools to increase community interest and support for public libraries including a public relations campaign, neighborhood action group, and community board. The advantages of community independence and decision sharing are discussed. (SW)

The 16 papers in this issue look at the needs of youth through the 1990s, describe ways librarians are meeting those needs, suggest additional services, and analyze the Mohonk Conference held in 1986 and its impact on libraries in the state of Youth in These Changing Times" (Jennifer Birckmeyer); (2) "Oh Boy, Here They Come! Library…

The Youth Services Director of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, NC, has involved the community in encouraging children to read with summer reading programs, story-telling festivals, author and illustrator visits to schools, family reading programs for babies through kindergartners, and a year-round middle school reading…