This special issue includes 13 articles that address the need for educating library support staff. Highlights include certification of support staff; examples; attending relevant conferences; support staff in professional organizations; a model for staff development and training; union versus nonunion benefits; networking; and mentoring. (LRW)

Implemented multi-disciplinary program to assist nursing home staff in understanding the behavior of the mentally impaired and to develop effective intervention skills. Found curriculum to be effective in building knowledge and improving skills on the job. (Author/ABL)

Includes "Introduction"; "Impact of Research on Manufacturing SMEs"; "Technology Acquisition and the Changing Face of Manufacturing Industry"; "Enabling Continuous Improvement of New Product Development Processes"; "Innovation and SMEs"; "A Decision Support System for the Initiation of…

After providing introductory material on the characteristics of effective information dissemination, this report describes the strategy used by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) to disseminate its publication "Information Abstracts" to members of the consortium. The role of the campus contact person…

This document profiles locally developed programs that have proved effective in specific schools. The material is presented in a manner that is useful to other schools and/or districts. On-site coordinators worked with schools, districts, and departments in the Pacific region to define their problems, determine which of the practices held promise…

Instructional specialists in industry are usually also managers. They are responsible for addressing the skill and knowledge requirements of their employees as well as considering the overall needs of the organization. They provide effective training and solve organizational problems. (JOW)

A survey of community-based organizations in Malaysia determined that there was strong support for public library sponsored community information services (CIS). This article examines CIS activity in Malaysia; analyzes the survey findings; and proposes a program of action for developing a prototype CIS model and CIS guidelines and designing a…

Describes a multi-method approach for assessing worker training needs in child welfare services. The approach is illustrated by describing research findings from a study of training needs of public child welfare personnel in Alaska and Oregon. (Author/BB)

This report describes the Quality Enhancement Project (QEP), one of four major components of the Child Day Care Planning Project (CDCPP) of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The major goal of the QEP was to develop a model for improving the quality of funded centers. The quality of care at 65 funded centers in Cleveland and 11 surrounding suburbs was…

The purpose of this report was to examine the progress of 60 local school districts toward attaining the goals of Missouri's Career Ladder Program. The goals were identified as teacher retention, teacher responsibility, professional growth, teacher sharing, teacher collaboration, and student enhancement. The assessment documents of 58 ladder…

Describes and evaluates a training program entitled PASSAGES which addresses the need for employee career planning. Implications of the program for business and industry are discussed. (RC)

A report is given of a study conducted on the nature and extent of support that local school systems in Maryland currently provide to new teachers. The study had two components: a statewide survey and case studies of promising programs. The survey polled Associate or Assistant Superintendents of Instruction in 23 of Maryland's 24 county school…

A school based teacher educator (SBTE) is an educator in an elementary or secondary school who is responsible for preservice, inservice, or continuing education. Preliminary results of a two-year (1975-77) study of the role and competencies of SBTE's in Texas were culled from information from a state survey, 40 teacher centers, and advisory…

Ways to monitor staff development programs include: (1) counting the number of participants; (2) obtaining participant reactions to programs; and (3) tracking participants by needs, objectives, and inservice topics. A needs assessment model of staff development focuses on information utilization, program impact, and evaluation approaches. (JN)

A study of beginning teachers (N=391) in North Dakota led to a group mentoring program to deal with the unique induction needs of new teachers in rural districts. (Author/IAH)