The success of academic librarians depends on their ability to escape a working pattern of routine and reaction and to master the professional role--to be aware of the library's dynamic environment, to exercise individual initiative, and to willingly engage in critical analysis and evaluation of their and their library's performance. (Author)

Employers view career breaks negatively, but particularly when women leave the work force to raise a family. Discusses how women returning to work assess their skills, knowledge, and attributes and present them to prospective employers; how employers assess the skills of job applicants; and how problems in these areas can be reduced. (PEN)

Discusses the issue of hiring part-time faculty to teach college English courses. Describes how the English department at Pennsylvania State University was forced to deal with this problem. (MM)

Notes the efforts of some universities to lure top professors from other universities. Reveals problems, such as raising the needed money and funding eminent scholars, and considers some positive aspects of the trend, such as the creation of new courses and emphases, and the clarification of priorities of a department. (EL)

Problems in employment and education in Mexico will remain in spite of the rapid economic growth expected from the expanding petroleum industry. The structural problems of the job market and education are analyzed with particular reference to higher education. Commentary by Michael Olivas accompanies this article. (JMF)