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At the A.L.A. convention in Miami Beach, some of us thought we heard Ameritech issue a death announcement for NOTIS, one of the the respected old‐guard of library automation systems.

Presents an overview of the massive changes that are, or will be, taking place in main libraries. Particularly discusses networked technology and its enormous shift in customer expectations and behavior, and forecasts it will bring massive changes to central libraries.

Aims to focus on the issue of value in libraries.

Draws from research conducted to set up a conservative transportable cost‐benefit analysis (CBA) methodology that could be applied to public libraries. The paper discusses the CBA‐survey participant comments draws out the value themes that interviewees talked about as they answered various questions.

There is a huge tendency in North America to talk about libraries as if they are secular churches and to impute spiritual values to them. This paper suggests that while library users may hold such feelings, that is not the first line of reasons for why they use their library.

Shows how library communications needs to be framed in the practical as well as the ethereal, the practical along with the ideal.

This paper sets out to provide an overview of the economic realities in optimizing library materials access.

Uses a discussion and examples to illustrate the difficulties in optimizing library materials access.

Provides a catalyst for librarians to consider their collections' optimality.

Hopefully, the example will spark still more attention to how public, university, special and school libraries, along with local, state and federal governments, can cooperate to optimize access both to books and to ubiquitous information and knowledge in a time of falling communication prices.

Along with most public institutions, public libraries are under attack for being socially unresponsive and economically unworthy of public funds. Looks at how urban libraries can defend their case by considering three main points: selecting appropriate methodology; building a framework for benefit‐cost analysis; and assessing necessary research. Concludes that continued research is very important as library resources are always changing. Proposes a pilot project to estimate direct and external benefits from public investment in library resources in one sector of library operations.

The purpose of this paper is to show how an effective library manager can handle the issues of employee theft of material, time, data and money.

Reviews and summarizes some of the literature on the topic and recounts personal experiences.

There are different types of theft: of physical materials, of non‐financial data, of money, of time.

Presents a useful set of general rules for success in the management of library theft.

To show that many of the old ways in which people think about libraries are not based on fact, but rather on fiction. Many ideas that library managers hold to be truths are, in fact, baseless assumptions about library operations.

Uses six examples of how library management often applies old approaches to the detriment of the library's future. After describing these examples, the truth about them is revealed as each one is examined and their fallacies are laid out.

There are many assumptions that play in managing a library. Some of these are not based on fact and, as such, need to be discarded.

Challenges managers to seek out the facts rather than base library policy on assumed truths. Even paradigms that may have once been true are not necessarily valid in today's library environment.

To illustrate that potential donors often can have difficulty in determining how to give to libraries and offer solutions that libraries can employ to eliminate those barriers.

Uses real‐life examples to illustrate various ways donors can give to libraries and presents options libraries can use to make giving simple and easy.

Libraries currently under‐use the potential of online donations. This can be overcome by prominently posting donation options on the library's Web home page, and make donating to the library simple and easy.

Suggests options for libraries to incorporate that can simplify the online giving process.

To guide library directors and their boards when financial issues arise – especially in finding a good balance on the level of involvement that the library board should have.

Uses a list of nine key responsibilities that can guide library board members when they deal with library finances.

It is impossible to have a library board and not have it involved in financial issues important to the management of the institution. Without proper guidance and management, board members cannot participate with the library in these issues in a meaningful way.

By listing nine responsibilities as examples, library directors can determine what responsibilities they want for their boards, and avoid some problems others have witnessed in other boards.