There is no national policy for school libraries which compels school governing bodies and principals to have a library in their schools. It is thus not surprising that in 2011, only 21% of state schools had libraries, only 7% had stocked libraries and 79% of schools had no library at all (Department of Basic Education (DBE) Republic of South…

Toni Garvey, director of the Phoenix Public Library (PPL) and LJ 2004 Librarian of the Year, has practiced her profession in a Western county jail, for the politicized board of a Southern public library, in the children's room of a university community, and through the up and down economics of a major American city. She has managed branches and…

This publication is the first formal summation of results on a nationwide basis of progress under the Library Services Act, a State-local-Federal cooperative program for extension and improvement of public library services to rural areas. The two previous bulletins of this series have been concerned with "plans"; this publication is concerned with…

Presents the findings and recommendations of a consultant supported by UNESCO who prepared a public library development plan for Papua New Guinea. Highlights include extending existing urban library services to rural areas; literacy programs; libraries' roles in national development; financial support; policy and legislation; and education and…

The director of the Public Library of Nashville & Davidson County (Tennessee) discusses the library's development since 1995. Highlights include Nashville's growth potential and political climate; improving the efficiency of internal operations; staff involvement in problem-solving (technology training and systemwide programming);…

The Central Libraries Automated Network (CLAN) of Nevada is a cooperative system which shares circulation, cataloging, and acquisitions systems and numerous online databases. Its mission is to provide public access to information and efficient library administration through shared computer systems, databases, and telecommunications. This document…

This publication provides the latest information available on the equipment and operation of mobile libraries operating out of road vehicles. The guide provides details on the establishment of mobile library services, financing, vehicles, furniture and equipment, staffing, collections, service base, and publicity. Some generalizations with regard…

Developed by the Task Force on Public Library and Library System Standards and Guidelines, these general standards are designed to give local planners a useful tool with which to assess their own unique programs of service and establish direction for future development. A section on planning and the public library considers (1) imperatives for…

Based on responses of 53 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries to a 1986 Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) survey, this kit examines the changes in the organization and staffing of the collection development function in ARL libraries over the past 3 to 4 years. A concise summary discusses survey results, which…

Discusses problem areas in the development of school libraries in Nigeria, including lack of legislation, shortage of funds, poor accommodations, unavailability of trained staff, lack of relevant material, and apathy on the part of school administrators and the government. Recommendations for improving this situation are suggested. (17 references)…

The mission of today's school library media center is to help prepare students to enter the information age of the 21st century. To carry out this mission, library media specialists, administrators, and teachers must ensure that students can effectively locate, access, interpret, evaluate, and communicate information. The school library media…