PERSONNEL COSTS AND PATTERNS IN LIBRARIES

Personnel cost projections are becoming a key component in overall lib rary planning. Strategic plans and the results of a process of definin g visions and values provide critical guides to where and how personne l should be allocated. The article also examines factors such as accou ntability, new programmatic initiatives, and client-centered approache s in terms of examining personnel costs. A review of studies related t o personnel costs and allocation reveals the need for predictive cost models in this area. In general, personnel allocation must be done not from formulas but based on programmatic priorities determined through careful planning.