Planning in the University Library

(Hardback)

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Description

Comprehensive planning has become an essential element in the management of the modern university library. The purpose of this book is to help those now engaged in this important management function by summarising the history of academic library planning and analysing its practice in a group of major libraries over the past several decades. The most significant changes confronting academic libraries over the past decades have been technological, social and economic. Strategic planning is used as the tool for making these libraries more responsive to their environments and for helping them anticipate and prepare for change. Stanton F. Biddle examines the extent to which strategic planning is being employed, analyses the planning documents, and develops guidelines for improving the quality of future planning efforts. The volume begins with a discussion of strategic or long-range planning taken from the literature of management and organisational theory. The next chapter reviews the historical development of large academic libraries and practices to their administrations through the 1970s. The following chapter focuses on the widespead dissatisfaction with traditional approaches to library planning source documents, and the final chapter concludes with recommendations.

Reviews

Stanton Biddle has provided the profession with an excellent historical account of the development of planning in academic libraries and valuable insights on the characteristics and direction of planning efforts over the past decade. This work will be an important addition to the required reading list for my graduate seminar on planning for libraries.-The Library Quarterly
This is a sound thorough study of planning in the American academic library.-ALR
This is a well-researched and very informative book which more than fulfills its purpose--as an aid to those involved in the management of university libraries by placing academic library planning in an historical context, and by the analysis of such practice in major libraries. Essential reading for library administrators and for professionals interested in the history and development of library planning.-Education Libraries
Though the historical sections of the work are directed towards the academic library the concept of strategic planning and the analysis Biddle brings to the topic are suitable for all types of libraries and information centers. I can highly recommend this book for library administrators in all fields of librarianship.-Information Processing Management
"Stanton Biddle has provided the profession with an excellent historical account of the development of planning in academic libraries and valuable insights on the characteristics and direction of planning efforts over the past decade. This work will be an important addition to the required reading list for my graduate seminar on planning for libraries."-The Library Quarterly
"This is a sound thorough study of planning in the American academic library."-ALR
"Though the historical sections of the work are directed towards the academic library the concept of strategic planning and the analysis Biddle brings to the topic are suitable for all types of libraries and information centers. I can highly recommend this book for library administrators in all fields of librarianship."-Information Processing Management
"This is a well-researched and very informative book which more than fulfills its purpose--as an aid to those involved in the management of university libraries by placing academic library planning in an historical context, and by the analysis of such practice in major libraries. Essential reading for library administrators and for professionals interested in the history and development of library planning."-Education Libraries

Author Bio

STANTON F. BIDDLE is Professor and Administrative Services Librarian at Baruch College, The City University of New York (CUNY). He is the author of numerous professional articles and has contributed chapters to professional books. He is President of the Librarians Association of CUNY and President-Elect of the ALA Black Caucus.