Employee absenteeism is a problem faced by all library and information service managers as it erodes both salary budgets and productivity. It can have an undermining effect on staff morale, and may be an indicator of low staff motivation levels. There are two types of absence, unavoidable and avoidable, which can be measured using lost time and…

The University of Calgary Library has developed an automated information system to aid decision making in the area of collections development. The traditional format for collections policies in a written description of the areas and levels where a particular institution is collecting actively. Using a computer-based management information system…

Based on interviews with OCLC staff, network directors, and librarians in member libraries, and related literature review, it is recommended that OCLC take steps to improve statistics it currently makes available and to consider leadership role in helping libraries use microcomputer technology to provide statistics for library management. (27…

Examines the characteristics of management information systems and their impact on decisions of senior library managers. The organizational feasibility of such systems is discussed in terms of four key components--economic, technical, structural, psychological--that are related to libraries in general and senior management decisions in particular.…

Identifies the lack of an effective comprehensive management information system (MIS) as one major impediment to effective library administration and outlines a proposal for the development of a system based on a total systems approach, which would be made available to subscriber libraries through a network system. Twenty-three references are…

A study was conducted to inventory and describe the quantitative performance measures of an academic library system which originate as a result of the activities at an automated loan desk. Visits were made to 24 academic libraries whose experience in library automation ranged from the completely on-line system with user self service and in-house…

Focusing on management decisions in academic libraries, this article compares management information systems (MIS) with decision support systems (DSS) and discusses the decision-making process, information needs of library managers, sources of data, reasons for choosing microcomputer, preprogrammed application software, prototyping a system, and…