Archive Report
Archive Report
Impact of Funding Problems
Focus on Coming White House Conference
Topic No. 1 at most libraries these days is not books, but money. Taxpayer tightfistedness, higher salaries and the rising cost of books and periodicals have forced many libraries to close branches, postpone renovations and maintenance, cut staff, reduce hours and trim orders for books and other library materials. At the same time, demand for library services is booming. Today's information explosion1 has expanded the library's traditional role as a lender of books. Patrons now expect librarians to answer sophisticated reference questions and, increasingly, to provide access to the growing number of computerized data banks.
“It is ironic that in a time when America's information needs are expanding, the nation's libraries are allowed to remain among the ...