This critique of prevalent conceptual methodologies in research in library administration examines the current research methodologies, relates them to the positivistic orientation of some social scientists, indicates why they are inappropriate, and suggests how research in library administration can be made more meaningful and relevant.…

Management literature appearing in "Library Quarterly," 1931-2004, is examined in this essay. A total of 145 articles are identified that focus on administrative and managerial issues related to libraries during this period. Management literature is construed expansively and includes accounting, administration, assessment, budgets, facilities,…

The teacher of library science can use case studies, simulations, and role playing to acquaint future librarians with the realities of library management. By using models, contextual statements, incident materials, and course management materials, the students can be involved in specific library problems which will later have broad on-the-job…

A population of more than 200 participants in nine Canadian continuing education workshops is used to test assumptions as to who benefits from continuing education in librarianship and what factors determine workshop registration. Topics for future research are suggested. (1 reference) (Author/CLB)

Describes operations research as an important management tool that can aid library managers in effectively using available resources and as a set of analytical tools that can enable researchers to better understand library and information services. Early history, definition, models, applications to libraries, and impact are noted. Twenty-five…

This book is a collection of the author's following publications and speeches, primarily from 1995-2000: "Look at All Those Beautiful Birds Overhead!""Priorities for the Research Library Budget,""What Do We Give 'Em?""The Legacy of John Swan,""Small Public Libraries-Challenges, Opportunities, and Irrelevancies,""Lead Me Not into Temptation To Do…

American library schools are confronted by the problems of declining enrollment, changing modern technologies, and a shrinking market for their graduates. The extension of courses to include information science is a welcome direction, although it seems to reflect a lack of confidence in the traditional library science education. For librarianship…

This essay relates author's experiences as librarian, educator, and administrator. Discussion covers elements of good librarianship, art of administration, climate in academic libraries, staff motivation in midst of technological changes, right person in wrong place or wrong person at wrong time, and associations with Keyes Metcalf and Luther H.…

Reviews the literature on computer simulation modeling for library management and examines whether simulation is underutilized because the models are too complex and mathematical. Other problems with implementation are considered, including incomplete problem definition, lack of a conceptual framework, system constraints, lack of interaction…

Reflects on the outcomes of a project undertaken in 1997-98 and examines issues relating to the development of the managerial expertise that underpins the library and information services in Latin America and the Caribbean. Reviews the literature, summarizes results of surveys of schools of Librarianship and Information Sciences and a small…

Mentoring in the fields of academia, business, and government has been studied since the early 1970s. The field of library science has recently begun to study this activity among the members of its profession. More research is needed to determine the extent of influence this area of career development has had on the careers of librarians. This…

Librarianship has undergone a radical change in recent years, which will be continued in the future. Whereas previously the administration of media was most important, nowadays an ever increasing willingness to provide a service is required. In addition to the essential restructuring of libraries, a generational change is taking place within the…

Summarizes efforts of females in librarianship over the last decade to achieve equity in library and information professions. Empirical data gathered concerning discrimination, salaries, and education are presented and documentation of women's contributions to the profession, library groups, and coalitions with the women's movement are discussed.…

This book presents eight essays based on a demographic survey of librarianship that explores the question of gender and ambition, as well as personal observations after 30 years in the library profession. The survey results show what kinds of librarians are eager to climb the managerial ladder and why. Facts are revealed about the barriers that…

This discussion of the nature and role of communication skills in implementing job responsibilities of librarians and information specialists argues that the most important foundation of effective library leadership is communication. The paper begins by reviewing the literature on leadership and developing a set of leadership characteristics. It…