College psychology students were required to make contact with an organization and obtain permission to conduct a job satisfaction survey with its employees, develop questionnaires, collect data, and compile an "Executive Summary" which was given to the organization and then presented in class. (RM)

As educational leader of the school, the principal must take the initiative to develop strong community support through a public contact system and through the accurate assessment of student needs. (LH)

Interviews with two reference librarians and two users of reference services explored the concept of quality in academic reference services. The study determined that providers and users agreed on the meaning of quality service: librarian knowledge and willingness; mutual expectations, willingness, competence, and satisfaction between librarian…

Middle school transition brings with it considerable change for those involved. Using corporate and industrial management theories and practices presents a rationale for wholesale and comprehensive educational change. (six references) (MLF)

A form of melancholia characterized by the negating of a college faculty member's professional motivation, positive attitudinal focus, and personal self-esteem is described. This "professorial melancholia" has three stages: (1) causal factors are beginning to have an effect; (2) progressive influence and noticeable impact; and (3) serious impact…

Although college administrators at every level experience some role conflict or ambiguity while acclimating to new jobs, if the dissonance is unresolved, it can lead to lower job satisfaction and self-confidence, higher tension and psychological strain, and greater feelings of futility and anxiety. Strategies for resolution are individual but have…

Describes the Family-Centered Program Rating Scale (FamPRS), a 59-item instrument with parallel forms for family members and service providers to rate satisfaction with and importance of various early-intervention program characteristics. An example of using the instrument to improve family-centered practice is detailed. (DB)

This book is a practical guide on how to realign one's career by careful, systematic analysis of what is not satisfying and what needs to be changed. It assists individuals in learning who they really are today, where they are going, and how to identify realistic work alternatives. Part 1 on achieving career satisfaction consists of three…

This study focuses on a 10-week program called the Summer Pre-Graduate Research Experience (SPGRE) Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The SPGRE has been in place for six years; it is designed to reinforce and promote graduate study through participation in directed and often on-going faculty research projects. Students are…

Principals who make the decision and investment to produce a school newsletter should follow these guidelines to obtain an informative and attractive product. The first step is to define the purpose of the newsletter, then determine the target audience--probably parents--and write the newsletter with them in mind. Next, decide what the newsletter…

Organizational climate refers to workers' perceptions that a given workplace possesses a distinctive atmosphere. Managers appreciate the behavioral implications of this concept, assuming staff performance or well-being might be improved by managing the climate. Attempts to manipulate organizational climate have generally been unsuccessful, and the…

Arguing that complaints are inevitable and that complaint handling should be an integral part of the library's public service program, this paper identifies and discusses the components of such a program. Concerns discussed are those that should be of general interest to all types of libraries, and the primary focus is on external complaints,…

Discusses the need for reference librarians to learn reference materials well enough to be able to review materials and correctly refer patrons to information sources. The review process is outlined and some evaluation of current reference services is provided. (CLB)

The standardized narrative for group orientation tours of a large university library was rewritten as audiocassette script for self-guided tours. Assessment of the audiotaped tour after one semester of use indicated that user reactions were positive and that it reduced the amount of staff time needed for orientation. (EM)

A survey of Library of Congress staff following implementation of four optical disk reader stations measured their satisfaction with training, documentation, equipment and printing, and system reliability and usefulness. Staff found no major flaws with the system, and they saw its usefulness primarily as an access tool. (CDD)