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The NP‐complete problem of optimally placing tuples on a hierarchy of secondary storage devices is considered using a heuristic approach. From load specification details captured at database design time, those tuples associated with queries which merit tailored, “set‐in‐concrete”, physical access paths are placed using a two‐level graph partitioning algorithm. Experiments are reported with the pages and cylinders as the two hierarchical levels of storage for a centralised database, but the technique is applicable to an n‐Ievel storage hierarchy—as up to the “different sites” level for distributed databases. The results show up to 39% improvement over single‐level partitioning algorithms for the database considered.

The aim of this article is to investigate the nature of use and impact of the Improve Your Library self‐evaluation process on school libraries and their integration into whole‐school development planning for pupil learning.

The research is structured in two phases. Phase one seeks to map levels, patterns and experiences of use by those responsible for the library within schools and to establish the nature of support needed for librarians from school library services and training providers. Phase two will track schools in detail to explore the extent of difference the process may have on library integration into the wider school self‐evaluation, development priorities and planning, and on library contribution to pupil reading and learning.

Preliminary investigations indicate that there is considerable diversity in current evaluation practice and in expectations of the Improve Your Library toolkits. There is a need for a national vehicle for sharing individual library experience to inform reflective practice.

The research focused on English schools. Successful delivery of the intended case banks of practice examples is dependent on a good range of schools being willing to share their experience.

Training and support needs and networks will be identified for providers and practitioners. Practical experience will be made available to librarians, school management and policy‐makers.

This is a timely evaluation of the first unified system of library self‐evaluation across English schools within the context of a new approach to whole‐school evaluation. It will provide librarians with a means of sharing and comparing experiences in the absence of a formalised benchmarking system for school libraries and contribute to a national picture of school library activity and priorities.

To combine items of evidence supporting a particular decision in a way which facilitates comparison between the cases supporting different conclusions, we advocate some improvements to a very simple method used in an experimental evidential reasoning system, relative evidential supports (RES). RES is very perspicacious in that decisions are made by trading off evidence items pro and con each contender. This makes the reasoning easy to follow by domain experts. The most important feature of this system is that it does not use numbers to indicate evidence strengths; simple comparisons of evidential supports for alternatives is the principle adopted. However, the de facto method of combining and comparing evidence is in a sense too stringent and in another sense too lax. We suggest some ways of improving the practical evidence comparison (or weighing) method of RES while retaining its conceptual characteristics and simplicity.

This case considers the buyout of Panera Bread from the perspective of a private equity fund. In early 2017, KLG Managing Director Tom Denning is considering a leveraged buyout of Panera Bread, a rapidly growing fast-casual restaurant company. A surprising Bloomberg News story signals that the deal process is broadening and KLG will have to act quickly if it hopes to buy Panera Bread. Students assume the role of Tom Denning as he prepares an investment recommendation for KLG's investment committee. In doing so, students are required to consider a very large and expensive investment. Students are challenged to create an investment recommendation by performing due diligence, determining additional questions to ask, and pricing a buyout bid that incorporates an optimal capital structure and meets KLG's return requirements. The Panera Bread case is designed to give students insight into the private equity investment process.