Charles R. McClure

Two underlying assumptions of this volume are that academic and public libraries can serve as effective intermediaries between the U. S. National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and library clientele, and that NTIS believes academic and public libraries, as well as their clientele, may comprise markets for expanding the number of people who might use and purchase NTIS information services and products. As such this volume fills a void in the literature regarding the operations and activities of the NTIS. Due to a broad range of factors discussed throughout the volume, academic and public libraries are unable to serve as effective intermediaries between NTIS and library clientele. The link between NTIS and the academic and public library professional community can be improved through a carefully developed and implemented plan.

This book is a timely and detailed exploration of the impact and issues of the Internet in public libraries and their implications for society, policy, and professional practice. Public Libraries and the Internet: Roles, Perspectives, and Implications explores the impact of the Internet and the expansion of the networked environment on U. S. public libraries through more than a dozen essays written by leading scholars and administrators. Notwithstanding the far-reaching changes wrought by the Internet, this is the first attempt to provide a comprehensive exploration of the subject over time and across areas of practice. This wide-ranging volume, edited by the authors of several national studies tracking the use and involvement of public libraries with the Internet since 1994, offers both description and assessment. It discusses the ways in which the roles and services of public libraries have changed as a result of the Internet and offers a perspective on the meaning and impact of these changes. Perhaps most critically, it also suggests possible futures and opportunities as public libraries continue to evolve in this networked environment.

. . . the editors prevail upon students, scholars, information professionals and policy makers to study the issues further in order to deepen the understanding of government information and positively affect policy decisions. - Journal of Government Information

Twenty-eight contributed papers provide an overview of LIS research, offering recommendations and strategies for resolving issues related to this research and for improving the quality, quantity, and impact of research. Paper edition (unseen), $32.50. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, O

Evaluation, which is a critical component of the planning process, assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of library programs and services in the context of stated goals and objectives. This book views evaluation as a type of research study in which evaluators collect either research or management data. Chapters discuss steps of the evaluation process and provide practical examples of the application of these steps to specific library problems. The overall objectives of the volume are to introduce readers to the relationship between planning and evaluation; to discuss the components of an evaluation study in clear prose so that readers can easily understand the different steps; to foster an attitude that recognizes the importance of evaluation for the development of library programs and services; to offer examples of each component of the evaluation process; to identify writings on evaluation in libraries and information centers; and to encourage organizational change and underscore the importance of evaluation to library decision making.

Evaluation, which is a critical component of the planning process, assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of library programs and services in the context of stated goals and objectives. This book views evaluation as a type of research study in which evaluators collect either research or management data. Chapters discuss steps of the evaluation process and provide practical examples of the application of these steps to specific library problems. The overall objectives of the volume are to introduce readers to the relationship between planning and evaluation; to discuss the components of an evaluation study in clear prose so that readers can easily understand the different steps; to foster an attitude that recognizes the importance of evaluation for the development of library programs and services; to offer examples of each component of the evaluation process; to identify writings on evaluation in libraries and information centers; and to encourage organizational change and underscore the importance of evaluation to library decision making.

An introductory perspective on selected issues related to Federal STI policies. Contributors describe aspects of the existing system and suggest possible strategies for improvement. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or. An introductory perspective on selected issues related to Federal ST

This volume is issue-oriented. By showing that issues relating to topics such as access to government information resources, collection development, and administration are not unique to documents librarianship, it places selected topics in a wider context. The book's objectives are to identify and discuss critically important issues related to increasing access to government information resources, to offer solutions and recommendations by which government information resources and services can be made more effective, to encourage more assessments that examine issues across levels of government, to emphasize the importance and need for a research base related to government information resources and services, and to encourage a critical assessment of current practices and traditional assumptions.

This books provides a detailed overview of conflicting issues and practices related to Federal government information policies and the distribution of federal information through print and non-print information handling technologies. Drawing from published literature and interviews with key Federal officials, it provides a framework for viewing Federal information policies and practices.

Going beyond typical approaches to developing and administering sponsored projects, the authors build a compelling case for new perspectives and techniques which are uniquely relevant to today's fast-paced Information Age. This work functions as both a theoretical treatise and a desk-top handbook by integrating systems thinking, information management, boundary spanning, contingency management, and strategic planning into an effective and flexible model for both the public and private sectors. It assesses the various factors to take into account when applying the model in different organizational settings and outlines the various steps in initiating a project and bringing it to completion. The authors also further unify the technical work and human dimensions of their model by incorporating it with emerging concepts of organization culture.