Management of information services requires managerial control of information about the service itself. A critical factor for information managers that affects their ability to provide service is their own competence at handling management information, i.e., information concerning and describing the performance, income, and expenses of their services. Successful operation of fee-based information retrieval services in the not-for-profit academic sector places considerable administrative pressure on mid-level managers. Balancing cost-recovery against demands for effective results within traditionally free information services requires that managers gather, collect, and evaluate a variety of information about information services. This paper applies the principles of Management Information Systems to the administration of Information Retrieval Services applicable to both profit and not-for-profit services encompassing cost analysis, inventory control, overhead and capital expenses, staff development and marketing, and evaluation of services. (Author)