Discusses the economic value of information and cost and benefit concepts. A subjective evaluation model for comparing the desirable and undesirable potential of library acquisition of an electronic information resource is then introduced. The model considers objectives, impact, costs, benefits, and alternatives, and lists evaluation criteria for…

Examines whether private school vouchers would increase educational quality in public and private schools. Even in models featuring X-inefficient (budget-maximizing) administrators, vouchers' effects on quality are ambiguous. Vouchers may reduce the enrollment response to changes in public-school quality by placing different households on the…

Presents lessons learned in four years of renovating school libraries in Cleveland, Ohio: build a team, fund raising, design tips (layout, furniture, color, windows, floors, theme), bargain hunting, staff recruiting, and timelines. With a small amount of money, volunteers, imagination, and hard work any library media center can be transformed into…

The Institute of Correspondence Education (ICE) of the University of Madras (India) is highly cost-effective when compared to the conventional system. The fact that a major portion of the cost is recoverable in student fees makes the ICE system more economical; however, the requisite level of resources has not been allocated for student-support…

Argues that recent decisions to outsource library collection development are not isolated incidents but attempts to privatize whole core services and even management of libraries. Examines three misconceptions about the private sector: that it can do it better and cheaper, that accountability to the marketplace is more effective than government,…

Offers a descriptive account and critical analysis of three cooperative collection development projects undertaken by the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA), a consortium of Virginia academic libraries. Reviews cooperative collection development processes and explains objectives that included cost effectiveness, improved access to information…

New information technology allows dental educators and practitioners to have better access to the medical literature and to details about a given patient and to process much larger amounts of information. These improvements translate into consistency of care, more and better medical knowledge, cost-effectiveness, and greater clarity of details…

As the profiles of four mentally handicapped teenagers show, students with severe disabilities can benefit from being included in subject-area classes. To facilitate inclusion, teachers can allow peers to facilitate learning, prime students to be successful participants, give students valued roles, utilize existing expertise, and adapt the…

Discusses personnel cost projections as a component of overall academic library planning. Topics addressed include strategic planning; the impact of the external environment; accountability; visions and values; technology and personnel costs; new program initiatives; client-centered philosophies; cost studies; and the personnel program cost…

Explores economic effects of increased educational expenditures on a state's economy, based on a proposal to shift $50 million from noneducational services to public education in the Arkansas state budget. This would generate a net gain of $13.1 million in total personal income and a $1 million net revenue gain. (Contains 17 footnotes.) (MLH)

Reviews an article that explains BRIDGE, a computerized cost simulation model that compares the cost of expanding a campus through distance instruction versus traditional classrooms. Results of case studies showed that if a television broadcast-delivered class has an enrollment of 150-300 it can be cost competitive with the traditional classroom.…

Describes how one institution took advantage of an innovative internship program to conduct an assessment of its utilities operations. Describes how the program worked, the implementation of a "hot and cold deck optimization" approach, the savings that resulted from implementation, and the ongoing benefits of facilities' assessment. (RJM)

Discusses the benefits of green, or high-performance, buildings, such as health and comfort, cost effectiveness, and sustainability. Explores the barriers to their use by schools--most notably cost. Offers suggestions on overcoming these barriers. (EV)

Provides a conceptual basis and data strategy for developing and selecting staffing indicators, focusing on teachers and embracing other educator categories. Discusses policy relevance and state of the art. Presents three selection/development rationales: macro-level descriptions, system-level conditions affecting teachers' motivation, and the…

Discusses Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), a method through which technology administrators may understand and manage all costs of technology-related purchases. Describes six categories of costs to consider during the planning process: professional development; support; software; replacement costs; retrofitting; and connectivity. (AEF)