The mission of libraries is to meet the information needs of the people they serve - but daily, sticky situations arise that make this tough to do. Reports of peepers, use of the library by the homeless for sleeping, inappropriate Internet use by patrons; encounters with offensive personal hygiene, skateboarding in the stacks, the threat of violence, one's role as a babysitter for latchkey children, censorious complaints: Is there an upswing or are librarians just more sensitized? How do libraries meet these demands? From the perspective of a working director, this thoroughly updated and revised edition (a must for a 1 sizes and types of libraries - Library Journal) is a commonsense guide to setting fair and appropriate behavior rules and training staff in how to implement them evenhandedly and with reasonably good humor. the mentally ill, and substance abusers, sexual deviancy and parental child abuse in the library; community censorship; confidentiality of library records; general security; and unaccompanied children, including protecting them and seeing to their emergency medical needs, are among the topics. Emphasis is placed on staff training and writing effective manuals.

As a library director, what does one do when the circulation department insists an unreasonable number of books must be replaced, the children's department needs more money for summer reading programs and the maintenance director claims the HVAC system will not survive another year? Responsible for an ever-increasing number of media formats and public service programs, library directors today must also create and maintain an intricate and continually challenging budget. Compiled from firsthand experience, this easy-to-read guide contains a plethora of information regarding financial management that is especially relevant to library administration. Beginning with creating an operating budget, the work discusses various revenue sources which may be useful in meeting financial obligations. The reader is also walked through the intricacies of the purchasing process, from day-to-day supplies and books to major projects. Additional topics include building library facilities, the practical side of auditing, and strategies for dealing with a limited budget. Appendices contain information on coding a line item budget and a copy of a library district gift policy. This is a must-read for any up-and-coming library administrator!