WHO WILL LEAD THE UNSUSPECTING LEMMINGS OVER THE CLIFF

THE STUDY AND REPORT BY THE BENTON FOUNDATION relies heavily on inform ation supplied by the general public, which has already shown in previ ous contacts its total inability to select among alternatives, to rank order, and to relate desires to funding options. This information is then compared to recommendations made by representatives of organizati ons identified as library ''leaders.'' However, the report confuses le adership with management authority and ignores the fact that managers and leaders have different and frequently contradictory priorities. Fi nally, this article argues that any meaningful strategy must come dire ctly from the analysis and professional judgment of librarians unfette red by what outsiders might consider desirable or reasonable, and sugg ests ways in which such a strategy might be developed.