In 2005, a record breaking 26 named tropical storms including 13 hurricanes ravaged the Gulf Coast of the United States. In response to the devastation of hundreds of schools, the Laura Bush Foundation swiftly created The Gulf Coast School Library Recovery Initiative to help school libraries become fully functional and to offer the needed print…

Volunteers are essential to a successful library program--and at a time when deep budget cuts are the norm, there are many libraries that depend on the help of dedicated volunteers, who do everything from shelving books to covering the phones. Whether these are friends, trustees, or community members, managing them effectively is the key to…

Provides an example of procedures to be followed when investigating a sexual harassment complaint in libraries. Highlights include preparation, including reviewing personnel files; interviewing the complainant, including sample questions; interviewing the alleged harasser; gathering information from other sources, including third-party witnesses;…

Explains the Academic Library Management Intern Program, which was developed and sponsored by the Council on Library Resources (CLR), and presents excerpts from interviews with librarians who successfully completed the program and with host library directors. Issues addressed include skills learned during the internship and changes in career…

Discusses the use of volunteers in school libraries. Topics include possible functions of volunteers, including the area of technology; interviewing potential volunteers; training needs and suggestions; effective supervision; and recognition of good work. (LRW)

Presents interviews with Fred Kent, founder of the Project for Public Spaces (PPS) and Phil Myrick, PPS's assistant vice president, about transforming libraries into desirable public spaces. Discusses qualities people value in public spaces; great library buildings and what they are doing right; the first thing library directors should do when…

Discussion of oral narrative tradition and storytelling focuses on the role of librarian-storytellers. A story of children's librarians and their storytelling experiences at the Los Angeles Public Library is described, the process of acquiring and developing storytelling skills and roles is examined, and implications for administrators and…

Discusses the importance of managing diversity in student academic library employment. Provides suggestions for orientation, policy review and enforcement, supervisory and management training, task training, interviewing techniques, correct placement, job descriptions, performance reviews, and scheduling. Notes importance of communication,…

Discusses pertinent issues with an urban public library director, including recent financial, demographic, and technological changes; developing partnerships within the community; service philosophy; communication with staff; and fundraising concerns, including management skills. (LRW)

Presents an interview with two librarians who are participating in joint-use projects, one between a public library and a school library, and one between a public library and an academic library. Personnel, commingling collections, changing library roles, and governance boards are considered. (LRW)

"Conversations with California Community College Librarians" is a snapshot in time at a time when colleges are swelling with new students, technology is surging ahead, and campus revenues are not keeping pace with growth or modernization needs. College library collections and services are increasingly technology-dependent. College…

Seven articles on library reference services highlight reference obsolescence in academic libraries, major studies of unobtrusive reference tests, methods for evaluating reference desk performance, reference interview evaluation, problems of reference desk control, online searching by end users, and reference collection development in…