EDITOR'S NOTES
Good for You!
by
Dick Kaser
This month we salute the winners, those librarians who learned not only how to be successful but how to measure their own success and tell the tale of their libraries’ success.
Among the articles this month, we are particularly proud to present the story of Orange County (Fla.) Library Systems, which was this year’s winner of the ALA/Information Today, Inc. Library of the Future award for its highly successful technology training sessions offered in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.
In this issue you’ll also read how a new online university received accreditation due to a strategy that featured a strong online academic library at its core. The virtual library now features 120,000 ebooks and 35,000 electronic journal titles.
In his column this month, Terry Huwe tells how the University of California libraries have been saving $114 million a year by focusing on continuous improvements and resource sharing. But now, new budget pressures require they slash yet another $52 million. Where will it come from? Huwe brandishes a stiff upper lip and suggests continuous improvements and a greater emphasis on ROI.
For hints on how to start thinking about your own library’s return on investment, Janet Balas identifies some excellent resources.
As we approach the conclusion of yet another tough year for library budgets, let’s all take solace in the facts, figures, and stories we have assembled about how, once again, our libraries have come to the rescue of so many people in a time of so much need.
A pat on the back and a group hug for everyone this Thanksgiving.
Dick Kaser, Executive Editor
kaser@infotoday.com
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