Describes a study that compared the cost-effectiveness of consolidated county libraries in large metropolitan areas of the Midwest with the cost-effectiveness of large city libraries which share service to the county with other large public library systems. The questionnaire used in the survey is appended. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the issues facing New York State public libraries regarding preservation of materials. Highlights include a review of related literature to examine the history, preservation methods, control of the library environment, education and training, organization, and government involvement; and results of a questionnaire that surveyed directors…

Outlines activities that collection development librarians can undertake to involve faculty in the development of the academic library collection. Topics include liaison activities with academic departments, public relations activities, and campus involvement to act as vocal advocates for the library. (Author/LRW)

Provides a framework for strategic planning for organizational development; identifies a societally-referenced "mega-level" of planning. Discusses needs assessment, quality management, benchmarking, and reengineering processes for defining and delivering a useful future for both the organization and society. (AEF)

Discusses a collaborative approach to evaluating professional training methods. Describes 4 objectives and 10 steps for "evaluating evaluation" that include identifying the training and evaluation goal, forming an evaluation team, designing the evaluation, developing the methods, collecting data, interpreting findings, and reporting results. (AEF)

Describes a ghost story writing contest developed by The St. Joseph County Public Library (South Bend, IN) and created to encourage students in grades three to eight to practice writing and to recognize talented writers. Sidebars present a contest timetable and a list of judging criteria for librarians interested in starting writing contests. (JMV)

Describes the Health Information Project, a plan created by the Maryland State Department of Education that allows residents to obtain health information from public libraries. Examples of patron situations involving health questions illustrate the plan's main elements: collection development, staff training, networking with community agencies,…

Proposes steps to help libraries improve services for a growing older adult population. Suggested actions include talking with gerontological professionals, implementing an agenda to address issues affecting older adult information needs, and promoting greater interagency cooperation among individuals and groups who work with the aging. (JMV)

Presents statistics for construction activities in academic and public libraries for new buildings, additions, and renovations for July 1, 1994, to June 30, 1995, and a six-year cost summary for 1990-95. Determines that library administrators have found that it is more economical to renovate and add on than to start new construction. Also provides…

Presents six curriculum guides for elementary and secondary education. Subjects include interdisciplinary instruction, music, reading/language arts, science, and social studies. Each guide provides library media skills objectives, curriculum objectives, grade levels, resources, instructional roles, activity and procedures for completion, a…

Provides guidelines for designing an "authentic project," which is the result of an information search based on a problem-driven task; it is a library research project in which authentic content is integrated with transferable skills in a real-life context. Presents three questions for assessing student performance and learning objectives.…

Presents information on government publications for school library media specialists, notes problems, and identifies selection aids. Topics include: the "Monthly Catalog" on CD-ROM, the Superintendent of Documents Classification System, GPO bookstores and depository libraries, how to purchase and promote the use of government publications, and a…

Discusses analytical searching, a process that enables searchers of electronic resources to develop a planned strategy by combining words or phrases with Boolean operators. Defines simple and complex searching, and describes search strategies developed with Boolean logic and truncation. Provides guidelines for teaching students analytical…

Discusses the theme of morning from the perspective of children. Provides several passages and describes stories from children's books that deal with the subject. Discusses the benefits of morning activities and routines, as well as morning journeys and exploration. Presents a creative activities sampler and print and film resources. (AEF)

Presents the second part of a discussion on "Information Power," a new guide for program development that demonstrates the evolution of the library profession. Describes resources for leadership and development in libraries and education. Highlights include cooperative planning, leadership qualities, flexibility in educational reform, insights…