Last fall, Information Today, Inc.'s research division, Unisphere Research, conducted a survey of more than 1,200 public, academic, government, and special librarians with budget authority in North America. The study determined that after a couple of devastating years, most libraries are projecting budget stabilization in 2011. Naturally,…

The downturn in the economy has taken its toll on libraries. Even in the best of times, most libraries have to work with budgets that are barely adequate to support their essential activities. In these recent months, the recession has subtracted significant funds from the parent organizations of many libraries: city, county, and state governments;…

All libraries, whether large or small, feel the need to stretch their budget dollars to provide the most service for the buck. Whether the need is to provide a new library service, market existing services, or simply find a better solution for an administrative function, creative librarians can find solutions that fit into even the tightest…

In this article, the authors discuss ways one can create a digital library on a shoestring despite the current high technology costs. Here, they describe the University of South Carolina's digital library development. The cost associated with building and maintaining the digital collections seems to have been worth it based on the feedback that…

Lakeland College, a small rural institution on the Canadian prairies, used to face the dilemma of needing a Web presence without having the funds, staff, and technology infrastructure to support it. This article relates how Lakeland's librarian hired ShirWin Knowledge & Learning Systems, Inc., a small software company based in Edmonton,…