Discusses the role of libraries and library staff in helping society grapple with the ramifications of multiculturalism. Definitions of multiculturalism, steps in creating a diverse library staff, training needs, and dealing with charges of political correctness are addressed. A graphic model of stages in the process of developing a multicultural…

Long a controversial topic in the specialized world of reference librarianship, unobtrusive evaluation is a useful tool in gauging the degree to which reference librarians are effectively performing their jobs. Based on a nationwide survey of government documents reference service in Canada, This book examines the broad philosophical implications…

Eleven articles discuss the response of library users and personnel to automation. Topics covered include computerized reference services, online public access catalogs, paraprofessional staff perceptions of technology, organizational and managerial impacts of automation, workshops on new technology, gender differences in motivation to manage and…

A survey on the role of academic library committees showed that not all libraries use committees in significant roles; committees do not guarantee librarians a significant voice; librarians were positive about policy-related committees and negative about fact-finding and information-gathering committees; and smaller libraries used committees more…

Discusses methods of evaluation that can be used to measure public library effectiveness, based on a conference sponsored by the Council on Library Resources. Topics discussed include the Public Library Effectiveness Study (PLES), quantitative and qualitative evaluation, using evaluative information for resource acquisition and resource…

Five articles address issues concerned with personnel management in libraries. Topics discussed include ethical issues; hiring practices, equal employment opportunity and affirmative action in members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL); technological changes in libraries that affect motivation and work attitudes; career planning in…

A survey was conducted in January 1997 to determine security issues of Ohio public libraries. The survey was distributed to 100 libraries of differing sizes with a 70% completion rate. The following questions were asked: (1) Do you believe that security is a problem at your library? (2) Do you believe that mutilation of periodicals is a problem at…

Discusses the applicability of for-profit customer service concepts to nonprofit library public service. Highlights include 10 elements of successful library customer service for children and youth; creating appropriate physical environments; understanding the customer; body language; organizational restrictions on staff; customer feedback;…

Presents an interview with American Library Association award winner and children's librarian Jane Botham covering such issues as library relations with the community, relations with other agencies, dealing with reactions to controversial books, library staffing, developing children's appreciation for the library, and children's need for adult…

Investigates the effects of participatory management techniques advocated by the Public Library Association through a study of long-range planning at four public libraries that focused on staff members' views of the planning process, types and levels of staff participation, and attitudes about the effectiveness and consequences of the planning…

Describes a qualitative study involving interviews with 12 women employees in academic libraries that investigated their views of computers and technology, methods for training effectiveness, learning styles, and views on serving patron's needs. Discusses training implications and makes suggestions for maximizing transfer of training. (LRW)

Discusses the national curriculum in the United Kingdom and its impact on secondary school libraries. Highlights include the national curriculum and the management of schools and the responses of librarians, including management structures, library policy, communication strategies, library facilities and equipment, library collections, and staff…

Discussion of the organizational structure of academic libraries focuses on a study that examined how the work of academic librarians is structured and whether the traditional functions of public services and technical services are still separated. Topics addressed include the role of subject specialists, attitudes toward reorganization, and…

The development, testing, introduction, evaluation, and refinement of a user interface for a statewide, multi-library online public access catalog network can be a very involved and politically complex enterprise. A multitude of perspectives, assumptions, preferences, and needs accompanies the multitude of players involved, i.e., library…

Advocates of participative management in academic libraries point to increased job satisfaction and performance as benefits, while opponents favor less participative means such as consultive management, with librarians having input and the directors making the decisions. A survey of reference librarians in the Texas community colleges was…