Reference librarians are constantly balancing their reference duties against other duties, for example, collection development and departmental liaison. The author works as a reference librarian at Texas A&M University-Commerce Libraries in Commerce, Texas. The university has approximately 11,000 students, a large number of whom are…

In this explorative study, we first investigate current use of public library statistics in public library management to identify a governing framework and then carefully suggest an alternative framework with income as a goal for sustainability. The meaning of income in terms of management is also discussed. Within this framework, we conduct a…

The intent of this paper is to explore the potential of utilizing interlibrary loan (ILL) data relating to lending denials to improve ILL services while highlighting institutional policies that have a negative impact on lending fulfillment rates. Reasons for denial as well as the types of requests being denied are reviewed. In addition, the author…

Highlights of the 1975/76 annual report for the University Libraries at the State University of New York at Albany include: (1) acquisitions dropped markedly; (2) follow-up on the report of the library review team, including the beginning of a long term project of developing a statement of mission and objectives for each unit by library staff and…

The Western Interstate Library Coordinating Organization (WILCO) received a grant from the United States Office of Education to develop and demonstrate a statistical data base system for library decision makers. The first quarter was devoted to obtaining background information, scheduling, organization, planning, and design. Achievements included…

The control function of an organization includes the comparison of set management goals and performance. A trend has emerged in recent years to replace subjective judgments by objective measurements of performance in libraries. The credibility of statistical data, however, depends on accuracy used in gathering, logic applied in assemblage and…

This document reports request for a total of $271,246,000 for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for Fiscal Year 2008. Funds are designed to assist the Institute in expanding its leadership role in creating an informed and educated citizenry, and transmitting the values of American democracy. In recent years the Institute has…

Distinguishes five main categories of special libraries in Singapore: those of private organizations, foreign governments, government departments, statutory boards, and regional organizations. Statistical data are provided for library holdings, professional staff employment, and subject profiles, and suggestions for improving various aspects of…

Statistics are basic to the legislative process and must be available in a form quickly and easily perceived to support library legislation. There should be a sound statistical base, fleshed out with practical examples, to impress legislators and lay persons. Communication of statistical data to decision makers requires a sound public information…

Work sampling is an effective device for testing efficiency in the use of library materials and personnel. An administrator can determine whether circulation or reference librarians are effectively using their time and whether the work flow should be reorganized. Key operations of a sampling should include definition of a problem, identification…

A survey was conducted to investigate public library directors' use of the Federal-State Cooperative System for Public Library Data and the Public Library Data Service reports. This article highlights the uses directors made of statistics and the aspects of statistics that they found particularly useful. (Contains 51 references.) (Author/AEF)

This report summarizes the accomplishments and activities of the project during the second quarter. An intensive search of the literature continued for data elements, outcome measures, and background information. A great deal of time and effort were devoted to the location, compilation, and comparison of extant data elements employed in collecting…

This annual report is the first to be written since the middle 1960's. In order to provide a sense of progress, the problems, and the trends which have occurred during the intervening years, this report is organized around a series of major library concerns including: (1) collections; (2) physical facilities; (3) internal organizational…

This fact book, compiled to fill the need of practicing librarians and researchers for recent data on public libraries, contains statistics concerning or relevant to the U.S. public library system. Data on all aspects of American public libraries are summarized from such sources as annual reports, journal articles, surveys, books, doctoral theses,…

The prefatory section of the Library of Congress (LC) annual report lists library officers, library committees, consultants, and an organizational chart. The body of the report begins with a narrative overview of recent LC activities in such areas as organizational changes, copyright law, Bicentennial Program, publications, and projects. Separate…