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Procurement processes for automated library systems need examination to determine if libraries are choosing the best methods for getting the best return on their investment. Understanding the costs involved and how typical decisions in procurement procedures add to the costs of systems will allow libraries to judge if the process better serves the library than using the money in other ways. Alternative processes including standardized request‐for‐proposals, contracts and understanding how to utilize lawyers and consultants are suggested in an attempt to show that procurement processes could achieve the same goals using different methods while allowing libraries to use their money to purchase other goods and/or services. The benefits of the implementation of such processes are also reviewed.

Community development was one of the first block grant programs, a “hybrid” which retained categorical features and constraints. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) has proven to be resilient and popular with local officials. It has been reauthorized by Congress a number of times over the past three decades, and is among the 15 largest federal grant-in-aid programs. In recent years, the Bush administration, Government Accountability Office, and others have called for major changes in the program, including funding formula, program priorities, performance reporting, and agency location. This paper describes the general characteristics of block grants, the dynamics of the block grant “balancing act,” and lessons from experience. In this context, the varying expectations of CDBG stakeholders and reformers are identified and implications for policy-makers are discussed. Options for the future design and direction of the program are offered.

This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/03074809810207731. When citing the article, please cite: Carl Grant, (1998), “Organizing to meet and face the Web transition”, New Library World, Vol. 99 Iss: 2, pp. 56 - 59.

Libraries are struggling with the issues imposed on them by the Web. This has been greatly complicated by the fact that libraries are, for the most part, each acting independently in addressing the issues imposed on them daily by this new technology. This article examines the possibility that if libraries organized and effectively met the larger issues of true networks, better ease‐of‐use, coordinated digitization projects, authenticated Web resources, international copyright laws, updated teaching programs for librarians and better standards definition they would better position themselves to handle and take advantage of the opportunity created by the Web.