Anyone at the helm of a small public library knows that every little detail counts. But juggling the responsibilities that are part and parcel of the job is far from easy. Finally, here's a handbook that includes everything administrators need to keep a handle on library operations, freeing them up to streamline and improve how the organization…

The California State Library is charged with performing the following activities as defined by law. The State Library, under the direction and control of the State Librarian, an appointee of the Governor, has responsibility: (1) To collect, preserve, generate and disseminate a wide array of information; (2) To serve as the central reference and…

The President of ALIA writes about expectations for the Public Libraries Summit, and provides an account of what took place on the day of the meeting, and what has taken place since. In funding terms, the most likely areas of productive engagement with the federal government are considered to be: children, early learning and a literate Australia;…

Gives a short history of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA), a broad-based program of Federal aid to public libraries. Several outstanding programs exemplifying the types of library programs funded with LSCA money are also discussed. (LLS)

Examines the role of the public library in providing outreach services to migrant farm workers, citing experiences of three public library systems in the areas of information and referral, bookmobiles, and funding. Physical and psychological inaccessibility are discussed. Three references are cited. (EJS)

This report includes national and state summary data on public libraries in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with an introduction, selected findings, and tables. The report is based on data from the Public Libraries Survey for fiscal year 2005, and includes information on service measures such as number of users of electronic resources,…

Living in the vast shadow cast by the spires of the Magic Kingdom presents special challenges for Orlando's Orange County Library System (OCLS), the most formidable of which is increasing its relatively small user base. The library additionally faces tension between the administration and staff, political strife on the board, and looming contract…

The 17 short pieces in this guide advise librarians how to enhance the profile of their organizations through increased interest in the media and more visible involvement in the community, and how to address budgeting, planning, and evaluating a public relations program. Fourteen rules of thumb for preparing and using news releases are described…

The concentration of disadvantaged people in the major cities of the United States requires new programs of the urban library. Libraries must actively intervene to provide information and referral services on the problems of daily living and should serve as cultural institutions, reflecting the various ethnic orientations to be found in the city.…

Describes existing library services for disabled individuals at libraries in the Chicago area, and discusses issues that need to be addressed in planning for such services; e.g., financial support, accessibility, adjusting services to patron needs, mainstreaming, and outreach programs. (19 notes with references) (CLB)

A comprehensive plan for the development of equitable library service on a cooperative and cost effective basis in Coos County is presented in this report. Topics covered are library resources and services in the county, cooperative library service organization, utilization of total resources and services, special needs and special services,…

Discusses large print books in public libraries in terms of funding, purchasing, the library population that uses these materials, library services and outreach programs, and ways in which to promote these books. Desired improvements in the range of materials available, formats, and physical considerations of large print books are identified. (CLB)

In the most general sense, family literacy is any intergenerational program that focuses on family reading. One of the important goals is to break the cycle of illiteracy, and another is to promote reading and encourage families to enrich their lives through the shared experience of reading. The Utah State Library has offered literacy grants with…

This volume is the second of two in a report on a state-of-the-art assessment which was conducted to determine the roles of school, academic, special, and community libraries in creating and/or providing viewtext information services; the information resources now available or expected to be available in the future to a sample of libraries in the…

A theoretical overview was developed as background for the Appalachian Adult Education Center (AAEC) research into cooperative service to disadvantaged adults by the public library and the public schools. Enormous needs to expand educational services to adults in the United States were identified. An historical review of educational and library…