In this article, the author presents observations learned while "on loan" from Northwestern University (NU), Evanston, Illinois, to the campus library in Doha, Qatar, (NU-Q) Middle East. The author's ongoing experience is helping her see how important global exposure can be to a library professional's attaining a deeper and wider level…

This paper discusses personnel management issues that arose when the East Berlin (Germany) Municipal Library and the West Berlin America Memorial Library united in 1995 to form the Central and State Library. The first section provides historical background on the two libraries and their merger. The second section summarizes the East-West conflict…

Defining and expanding diversity in the workplace may involve reassessment of the dominant workplace culture in libraries, in order to foster better understanding and more effective management, retention, and promotion of librarians of color. Highlights include a selected bibliography and a survey instrument that analyzes the dominant culture of a…

Discusses the need to market information services in Africa and examines some of the obstacles to the use of library and information services. Highlights include technological changes; management issues, including a negative image of librarians; marketing information to a population with low use of libraries; the role of governments; and culture…

Describes the highlights of the Second National Conference of African American Librarians, held in Milwaukee (Wisconsin) in August 1994, that focused on multicultural issues. An overview of conference programs discusses leadership development and the dangers of diversity. Sidebar articles list conference award winners and exhibitors. (KRN)

Discussion of the increase in student diversity among academic library employees focuses on management procedures when selecting, training, supervising, and evaluating a more diverse workforce. Orientation, the role of authority and power, and individual versus group affiliation are considered. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of multicultural workforces focuses on the need for reference librarians to increase their supervisory communication skills to effectively manage their departments. Topics addressed include cross-cultural communication; values of other cultures; listening skills; and speaking skills. (Contains seven references.) (LRW)

Discussion of cultural diversity in a rapidly changing population focuses on efforts at the San Jose Public Library to respond to cultural and demographic changes. Obstacles to responding are reviewed as well as positive responses, which include creation of policy statements, developing goals and objectives, administrative reorganization, and…