Briefly summarizes topics discussed at the annual conference of the Canadian Library Association, including the goals and objectives of the organization, the findings of a commission which examined the decision making processes of the association, and the establishment of a task force to review association publications. (CLB)

Outlines factors used by online vendors to decide whether to bid on RFPs (requests for proposals) for library automation systems, including specifications for software, hardware or performance requirements not met by the vendor; specifications based on competitors' systems; the size and complexity of the request itself; and vendors' time…

Describes an automation project at the Merriam Center Library in which Apple Macintoshes were introduced as library workstations. The implementation process, staff involvement and reactions, and current configurations and applications of the workstations are discussed. An appendix provides a comparison of current microcomputer based workstations…

Several consultants address the development and use of RFPs (requests for proposals) in the library automation procurement process, including the cost of developing a request; the need to concentrate on overall goals, not just the document; and the usefulness of the request as one step in a broader planning process. (CLB)

Briefly reviews the theoretical principles of decision making and communication for effective management, and describes management practices in Canadian academic libraries facing retrenchment that deviate from this theoretical model. Suggestions for achieving greater congruency between scholarly theory and management practice, thereby facilitating…

Describes a survey of librarians in the California State University that examined the extent of professional staff participation in decision making. Organizational structures that facilitate participative management are identified, and librarians' perceptions of its degree and effectiveness are discussed. (6 references) (Author/CLB)

Outlines the stages in the decision-making process for libraries acquiring optical data disk systems, including the establishment of a project manager or task force, feasibility studies, creating a planning document, hardware and software evaluation, devising processes and policies, and analyzing contracts. (CLB)

This book provides readers with an introduction to economics and cost-benefit analysis and will be particularly valuable to individuals who are, or plan to be, managers of information services in academic, public, or special libraries. Part 1 provides a rational for economic studies in librarianship, specifically, gaining understanding of consumer…

Discusses the need to teach undergraduate students the critical thinking processes necessary to formulating and researching a topic, rather than the technicalities of online catalogs. The development and design of an online catalog at Dickinson College, which forces students to make informed choices throughout the search process, is described.…

This discussion of women's leadership styles is based on a description of the activities of a group of female media professionals, librarians, and educators who were responsible for planning and operating a school library system as part of the New York State library network. (CLB)

Following an introductory discussion by E. J. Josey that provides a perspective on college and university libraries, the following essays are presented: (1) "Academic Library Planning--Definitions and Early Planning Studies in Academic Libraries" (Stanton F. Biddle); (2) "Academic Libraries and Academic Computing--Rationale for a…