Editorial

Citation

Walther, J.H. (2000), "Editorial", The Bottom Line, Vol. 13 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.2000.17013aaa.001

Editorial

Presented here are articles demonstrative of the many examples of change happening throughout libraries today. Keeping in focus of the issues of fiscal responsibility and financial management, I encourage you to look for the common threads of thought here. We must evaluate and adapt current library services and create new ones, because of the fiscal need for the service, not for the sake of change. From an examination of the restructuring of an academic library, to how to communicate fiscal needs, to the application, collection and usage of statistics in library management, this issue will give you practical approaches to situations of transformation in your library. Yet, movements and mutations are difficult to make in library organizations. Dr Holt's column examines how service changes can be thought about and collected for organizational change and budgeting. The two articles on the conversion to a new online catalog and the implementation of scanning technology will offer new services and options to users today, while keeping an eye on the proverbial bottom line.

Change happens not only in our libraries. In this issue, I present two new columns, one by consortium expert, Mr Bernie Sloan, and a shared column between Dr Niels Ole Pors and Dean Roberta Shaffer on the topic of statistics. Because we inaugurate a new volume with this issue, I also present a brief symposium of The Bottom Line Editorial Advisory Board. We welcome several new members and thank those who are leaving for their help throughout their tenure. In addition to the rich advice from Board members, I would like to thank Mr Kent C. Boese at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution Libraries and Ms Laura Whitbeck, Bryan Cave, LLP, Washington, DC, for their unending assistance on this and upcoming issues.

James H. Walther

Editorial advisory board

Mary Ann Barragryjoined the library staff at Wisconsin Electric Power Company in 1985, assuming the position of Corporate Librarian in 1988. Previously, she held positions at Northwestern University and in the corporate libraries of the American Hospital Supply Corporation and the American Dental Association. Her professional activities have included Wisconsin and Illinois Chapter affiliations with the Special Libraries Association, as well as past Chairperson of the Edison Electric Institute Library Services Committee. Her MSLS is from the University of Illinois.

Bernard "Buzzy" Baschis President of The Reference Shelf and Basch Subscriptions Agency in Concord, NH, USA. Before starting Basch Subscriptions, he was President of Turner Subscriptions Agency and Vice-President at Faxon and Ebsco. He is a Fellow of the Special Libraries Association, has held posts in the American Society for Information Science and the Special Libraries Association Board. He has been recently appointed Finance Chair for ASIS and currently serves on the American Library Association Publishing Committee, the Directory Publishers' Forum Board of Directors and the National Council for the Olin Library of Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, where he received his BS and MBA degrees. He is an active participant in a number of other professional associations and lectures on the topic of serial issues around the world.

Annalee Bundyis the Executive Director of the Ames Free Library-Easton's Public Library in Easton, Massachusetts. Born in Chicago, Ms Bundy has served as an academic, public and special librarian in many locations, including Guam, Marianas Islands, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington, DC. As an American Library Association member for over 40 years, she has held numerous positions, including President of the Metropolitan Library Association, a Division of the Public Library Association. Her library association activities also include officer positions in the New England and Massachusetts Library Associations.

Kay Ann Cassellis the Associate Director for Programs and Services at the New York Public Library Branch Libraries. Formerly, she was the Director of the New School University Library, the Huntington (NY) Public Library and the Delmar (NY) Public Library. In addition to her positions as a library director, she worked as an adult services consultant at the New Jersey State Library and at the Westchester (NY) Library System. Ms Cassell is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University with an MLS from Rutgers University. She is a frequent contributor to library literature and has just completed a book for Neal-Schuman, Developing Reference Materials and Services in an Electronic Age.

Blane K. Dessyis the executive director for the National Library of Education, a mandated component of the US Department of Education. Mr Dessy holds a Master of Library Science from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr Dessy's career has always been linked to government service. He served first at the local level in the states of Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. He then progressed through several state governments including Ohio and Alabama, and finally, the federal government. In all of his professional experiences, he has been in continuous contact with policymakers, elected officials and legislators as they dealt with various library and education issues. He recently served as Legislative Fellow in Congressman Major R. Owen's office.

Eileen Fitzsimonshas a PhD in Germanic Languages and Literature and an MA in Library Science from the University of Chicago. She is currently a freelance editor, with library science as one of her subject specialties. She began her library career as a cataloger and reference librarian in a theological library, and then moved to library association work. She worked for the Medical Library Association, first as coordinator of continuing education and credentialing and later as Director of Publishing. At the American Library Association, she was a program officer for Reference and Adult Services Division, now Reference and User Services Association, and then the Deputy Director for the Association for Library Service to Children. After working for Neal-Schuman Publishers as developmental editor, she started her own editorial service.

Barbara FordAs Assistant Commissioner at the Chicago Public Library, Ms Ford oversees the central library which is the largest public library building in the world and houses nine million items. The central library is used by 6,000 people daily and supports two regional and 76 neighborhood libraries. Her experience includes working in academic, public, and special libraries in Illinois, Texas, and Virginia. In 1997-1998, she served as president of the American Library Association. Ms Ford is also active in the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. She has written numerous articles and book chapters and spoken around the world about library-related issues.

John Furlongis the Director of the Brentwood Public Library in Brentwood, Missouri. He has earned a BA in History from Murray State University and an MLS from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Mr Furlong has served in a variety of settings and capacities within the library field, including posts at the research library of the Missouri History Society, the Saint Louis Public Library, as a Software Specialist and Trainer for Data Research Associates, a library automation company. In his current position, he is responsible for not only overseeing the daily operations and maintaining the current budget, but also planning for the future of the library, including a possible expansion. Mr Furlong is a member of the American Library Association, the Missouri Library Association, the Public Library Association of ALA, and serves on the executive board of the St Louis Regional Library Network.

Charles Harmonwas the past-editor of The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances, as well as writing several articles in the area of intellectual freedom and access issues, including his book co-authored with Ann K. Symons, Protecting the Right to Read: A How-To-Do-It Manual for School and Public Librarians (Neal-Schuman). He holds a MLS from University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Charles joined Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc. as Director of Acquisitions and Development. In 1998, he was promoted to Director of Publishing. His responsibilities include working to strengthen the company's overall publishing program, with particular emphasis in the areas of library technology and the Internet. His previous positions included working with young adult services in school and public libraries and as the Headquarters Librarian for the American Library Association. His activities there included administration of a special library serving ALA's members and staff, coordination of ALA's Internet activities, editing the ALA Handbook of Organization, and serving as staff liaison to several committees. During his tenure at ALA, Charles also coordinated ALA's activities at the Second White House Conference on Library and Information Services.

Glen HoltDr Glen Holt is executive director of the St Louis Public Library. He holds a Master's and Doctor's degrees in history and urban studies from The University of Chicago. He writes and speaks frequently on public library issues. His most recent research involves the application of cost benefit analysis measurements to library services. Holt is a Senior Networker in the library division of the Bertelsmann Foundation.

Rachel W. Jonesis Manager of Professional Education and Training at the law firm of Dickstein, Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky, LLP, in Washington, DC. Ms Jones received her MSLS from The Catholic University of America and was a reference librarian from 1985-1996, at both law school and law firm libraries. In 1996 she assumed the newly-created position of Manager of Professional Education and Training, which involves administration and oversight of the firm's in-house attorney professional development programming. Ms Jones also assists attorneys with their compliance requirements for mandatory Continuing Legal Education (CLE). Ms Jones is a trainer for DSM&O, in addition to lecturing at the School of Library and Information Science at Catholic, and a CLE instructor for Internet Legal Research with Georgetown University's Continuing Legal Education Program. Ms Jones is a member of the American Association of Law Libraries, the Law Librarians' Society of Washington, DC, the Professional Development Consortium, and the American Society for Training and Development.

Michael E.D. Koenigis the Dean of the Palmer School of Library and Information Science, Long Island University, New York. His past appointments have included posts at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science and the Graduate School of Business, Dominican University; Vice-President of Data Management, Tradenet, Inc.; the School of Library Service, Columbia University; and Swets North America. His professional activities include past Vice-President and President positions with the International Society of Scientometrics and Informetrics, Editor of the Monograph Series for the American Society for Information Science, American Library Association Chapter Councilor, and editorial board member assignments on numerous library journals. His extensive publication history and interests include: technological trends, information technology and their impacts; scientometric and infometric studies relating to information utilization and productivity; and management and administration issues of information functions.

Bernard Margolisis President of the Boston Public Library. In this post, he oversees the operation of the sixth largest library system in the country. Previously, he was the Director of the Pikes Peak Library District (Colorado), where, under his leadership, the library's collection doubled, five new branches were opened, community programming was expanded and a nationally acclaimed public forum series was introduced. Currently, he is serving his third elected term on the Governing Council of the American Library Association. He has served in a wide variety of association positions and committees in the Public Library Association and Library Administration and Management Association, and is now senior trustee of the ALA's $8 million endowment fund. He has garnered two John Cotton Dana library public relations awards and in 1993 the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts awarded him its "Award of Excellence" for his library-sponsored "Imagination Celebration". Mr Margolis received his MA degree in Librarianship and BS in Political Science from the University of Denver.

Robert R. Newlenis Head of the Legislative Relations Office, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. In this position, he has operational responsibility for congressional inquiry assignment and tracking; professional development and seminar programs for congressional staff; and for CRS congressional outreach generally. He has been with the Library for 24 years and was formerly head of the CRS Senate Reference Center. He is the author of Writing Résumés That Work: A How-to-Do-It Manual for Librarians (Neal-Schuman) and speaks frequently on résumé writing, interviewing and employment issues. He is a former Director of the District of Columbia Library Association and currently serves on the Executive Board of the American Library Association. He has a BA from Bridgewater College, an MA from The American University, and an MSLS from The Catholic University of America, School of Library and Information Science.

Maureen Pastinehas worked as University Librarian with Temple University since 1997. She has held positions at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Illinois, San JosÅ State University, Washington State University, and Central University Librarian at Southern Methodist University. Pastine has had considerable experience in library renovation, library construction, strategic planning, and development of library mission/vision, values, goals and objectives. Another area of expertise is in successful library fundraising, advancement and development. A third area of expertise is in working with extended campus sites and their libraries, regionally, nationally, and internationally, including expertise in distance education library services and library services to many remote sites (including international libraries). Maureen is an active participant of many divisions and sections of the American Library Association, and immediate past chair of the University Libraries Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries. She has led a number of librarian educational exchanges around the world, and in 1986 received the second Distinguished Alumni Graduate Award for the Graduate School of Library and Information Management from Emporia State University. In 1989, she received the Association of College and Research Libraries' Miriam B. Dudley Bibliographic Instruction Librarian of the Year Award.

Roberta Shafferwas appointed Dean of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Texas at Austin in August 1999. For the eight years preceding her post at Texas, Roberta was the Director of Research Information Services at the Washington-based, international law firm of Covington & Burling. Roberta has worked in the nation's capital at The Catholic University of America, School of Library and Information Science, The George Washington University Law School and at the Law Library of Congress and the University of Houston (Texas) Law Center. She was a Senior Fulbright Researcher in Israel and Portugal and holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Vassar, her law degree is from Tulane, and she received her Master's in librarianship from Emory. Her research areas and interest include law libraries, legal research, intellectual property, knowledge capitalization, and other technology-driven issues that affect information. She is now serving a three-year term as Vice-President of the International Association of Law Libraries.

Wonsik Jeff Shimis an Assistant Professor at Florida State University, School of Information Studies. He holds a BA in Business Administration from Sogang University in Seoul, Korea, and an MLS and PhD in Library and Information Science from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. His research interests center on the effective management of libraries, information centers and systems. He participated in many landmark studies, such as the study of the value of information services in academic libraries (Special Libraries Association) and the study of the cost and value of library services (Council on Library and Information Resources). He was Co-Investigator of the study "Novel Economic Approach to the Evaluation of Research Libraries" awarded by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR).

Betty J. TurockPast President of the American Library Association, Betty J. Turock, librarian, educator, lecturer, and consultant, is the founding editor of The Bottom Line. As President of ALA, Betty focused on Equity on the Information Superhighway, just and equitable access to electronic information for all people of our nation and the nations of the world now and in the twenty-first century. Prior to her election as President, Betty, an active member of ALA for 25 years, served in a number of leadership positions within the Association, including as a member of the Executive Board, the Council, the Committee on Program Evaluation and Support (COPES), and the Committee on Professional Ethics. She has held management posts across the USA in public, school, and academic libraries. Currently a Professor in the Department of Library and Information Studies at Rutgers University, she was, for the seven years prior to her election as president of ALA, Chair of the Department and Director of the MLS Program, voted among the top ten in library education in a 1996 survey by US News and World Report. Betty is the author of more than 75 publications and her book, Serving the Older Adult, published in 1984, is still referred to as the "definitive resource" in the field. She is also the author of Evaluating Federally Funded Library Programs, released by the US Department of Education, and, with Andrea Pedolsky, Creating a Financial Plan. The book, Envisioning A Nation Connected: Librarians Define the Public Interest in the Information Superhighway, was published by ALA in 1996. Dr Turock, has traveled, lectured, and served as a consultant internationally, as well as nationally, under the auspices of the USIA and the governments of Russia, India, the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Denmark, and France, among others.

J. Michael Tyreeis currently Director of the West Bend Community Memorial Library (Wisconsin), after joining the staff in 1994 as a reference librarian. His current expertise includes heading a library construction project that will more than triple the size of the library (both in space and collection), creating the largest library in a three-county library system. In addition to his responsibilities at the library, he is currently the Director of the Resource Library for the Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System. He is one of three library directors involved in creating Washington County's Library Consortia (WI), the first in the library system. His expertise includes working extensively with county and city administrators, mayors, city council members, municipal and county library board members, city engineers, maintenance workers, and other special interest groups.

Barbara Weaveris the Assistant Commissioner of Education and State Librarian for the New Jersey Department of Education. She is responsible for administration of a major research library, for statewide library development, and for operation of services to blind and handicapped residents of New Jersey. Among her numerous professional activities include involvement in the National Association of State Information Resource Executives, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, the American Library Association, the Rhode Island Historical Society and Women Executives in State Government. Her recent publications include examining the issues of federal funding, multi-library networks, outsourcing and library leadership.

Janet Welchwas named New York State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries in 1997. She most recently served as Executive Director of the Rochester Regional Library Council. During her 20-year tenure with the Rochester Council, Janet developed and expanded cooperative services and electronic access for the 435 libraries in the five-county region which, together, serve more than one million people. In addition, Ms Welch has worked with state legislators and New York's Congressional delegation to address issues that concern libraries, including funding, telecommunications, access to information and intellectual freedom. She is past president of the New York Library Association and she chaired the American Library Association's Equity on the Information Superhighway Committee, an effort leading to the creation of a vision of library services for the next century. Ms Welch is a Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude graduate of Bucknell University. She earned her Masters of Library Science from Rutgers University.