People who have reached a career plateau may have become demotivated. The career plateau often coincides with the so-called midlife crisis. The midlife and midcareer crisis is a time of reassessment, self-evaluation, and reflection; awareness of aging and of the limitations of the future produces such problems as depression, discouragement and…

Reports results of materials availability surveys conducted in public library systems and discusses implications of the findings for validity, reliability, and usefulness of fill rates as measures of library performance. A second paper presents another view in defense of fill rates, and responses by both authors are also included. (MES)

Discusses topics related to public and school library volunteers: (1) recruitment and reasons for volunteering; (2) training; (3) job satisfaction; and (4) other motivating factors including recognition, achievement, and responsibility. (MES)

This report contains the major recommendations of the Library of Congress (LC) Management and Planning (MAP) committee. The mission and values statement developed by the MAP Committee for LC precedes the main body of the report. The first of two major sections of the report includes recommendations organized into chapters according to the five…

Discusses the determinants of the quality of library services, the difficulties involved in attempting to measure quality, and the need for the profession to explore methods to improve library service quality. (CLB)

Provides a personal account of rediscovering the joys of teaching. Emphasizes the personal and emotional factors which attract and keep teachers in teaching. Considers the changes that occur for both teachers and students as they jointly explore great works of literature. (DMM)

A former educator, having worked 2 years away from academe, examines the transition from the university to the world of free enterprise. Topics discussed are job security, the relationship between client and provider, and how academe and free enterprise view the competitor. (BC)

Discusses the use of audiovisual programs to educate students to become library users and develop accepting attitudes toward libraries. Some guidelines for developing positive attitudes are suggested: concentrating on the student population, portraying a comfortable atmosphere, demonstrating library use, and portraying students solving their…

This commentary outlines the unique features of the profession of special education, such as its emphasis on the individual; teamwork with other school-based professionals; and the influence, both tangible and intangible, on children's development. The editorial concludes that there is "just enough wonderful" each day to encourage teachers to…

A study investigated the use of frequency of specific behaviors as an indicator of college student response to dissatisfaction. A population of 423 students from 5 universities helped categorize behaviors as characteristic of 4 constructs: exit, voice, loyalty, and neglect. Twenty acts emerged as viable indicators of the constructs. (MSE)

Discusses strategies to improve individuals' use of time and personal satisfaction through time management. The 126-item bibliography includes citations for time management in general and special sections for career development, family and parenting, women, and home management. (CLB)

Reports results of a survey of 800 library staff members on aspects of library work that they find stressful. The findings include sources of satisfaction and stress for all participants, and sources of stress specific to public services librarians, technical services librarians, and support staff members. (CLB)

Identifies factors which may account for user dissatisfaction with online public access catalogs (OPACs) and discusses some advantages of OPACs over card catalogs: (1) design for subject searching; (2) flexibility; (3) browsing capability; (4) precision; (5) availability of status information; and (6) development of microcomputer software to…

This paper focuses on the role of feedback in effective communication and ways in which feedback can assist library managers at all levels in performing their role as leaders. The various kinds and sources of feedback are discussed, and the relationship between feedback and goal setting are considered, as well as the effects of goal setting and…

The most difficult part of being a school psychologist is working in a school. Demands for accountability and staff productivity from federal, state, and local funding sources can lead to a lack of flexibility in educational strategy, increased pressure to place students in special education programs, and restrictions on the role of the school…