While all other states have moved to closer integration of state and public libraries, South Australia is moving the other way--an error which will have to be rectified. (Author)

This paper explores the political responsiblity of the library administrator, particularly in regard to government funding of public libraries and state library agencies. The history of library development in the United States is outlined, revealing the original political base of the library movement and indicating the necessity for political…

This issue of "The Bookmark" contains 23 essays examining the challenges facing public library trustees and changing community needs. Topics considered include: the role of the trustee, fund raising, lobbying and the legislative process, library building programs, library automation, literacy, intellectual freedom, information access, preschool…

Integration of local and national legislation is a necessity if libraries and library services for the public are to be well supported and widely available. Dating from the discovery of printing, local and national library legislation have gradually emerged to support libraries financially and to provide free service to the public, often without…

Considers role of states as middlemen between federal government and local public libraries in administration of Library Services and Construction Act funds. An audit of Illinois state library agencies, 1970 federal mandates, state control of federal funds, and state library agencies' use of funds are discussed. Eight references are cited. (EJS)

Presents a model for the development of statewide levels of adequacy for public libraries. Recent developments affecting the profession's thinking about standards are reviewed, various dimensions of the concept of standards are discussed, and issues that remain to be resolved are identified. (Author/JD)

Examines the responses from the state libraries to literacy issues studied in 1985 in two surveys--one of state initiatives compiled as background for the Second National Conference on Urban Literacy, and a survey of the chief officers of state library agencies. The California Literacy Campaign is described in detail. (EM)

Examines the value of the Public Library Association Planning Process and Output Measures. It is concluded that the planning process is wasteful, in that it ignores existing literature and addresses conditions that libraries cannot change. It is also argued that adoption of the output measures would be dangerous, as it involves serious egalitarian…

Introductory materials for these proceedings list acknowledgements and roundtable participants, provide the roundtable agenda, and present both the roundtable goal--to improve the quality of community information services in California public libraries through the development of a plan and program focus for the California State Library--and four…

This report describes the process by which the 1990 conference for state library literacy consultants--"Strengthening the Literacy Network"--was planned and implemented and the conference results. The overarching goal of the project was to promote the implementation of effective and innovative literacy projects and strategies nationwide…

This report presents and explains new standards developed for Alabama public libraries in response to a need for a clearly articulated, easily used, and broadly based public library planning and development tool. Intended to provide an overview of the new standards, the introduction discusses why the standards were developed; their purposes; how…

In this collection of interviews, the outgrowth of a symposium held in San Francisco, California, in July, 1981, librarians, students, and users of library services for blind and physically handicapped individuals express their thoughts and feelings about their experiences and about the attitudes they have encountered. Handicapped library users…

In 1988, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) created a task force with representatives of the two federal agencies and of national and state organizations to plan a program for the annual comprehensive national collection of public library data. This action…

Presents views of eight library jobs considered to be among the most desirable based on an informal poll of over 50 librarians. Directors of public libraries, the Librarian of Congress, state librarians, special librarians, and reference librarians are profiled, and a list of 22 additional desirable jobs is included. (LRW)

Discusses results of a survey of state library agencies that was conducted to determine current practices for the provision of consultants and workshops for the improvement of reference services in public libraries. The necessity of continuing education is considered, implications for library schools are examined, and future research is suggested.…