Administrative Issues in Planning a Library End User Searching Program. ERIC Digest.

This digest presents a reprint of an article which examines management principles that should be considered when implementing library end user searching programs. A brief discussion of specific implementation issues includes needs assessment, hardware, software, training, budgeting, what systems to offer, publicity and marketing, policies and procedures, and evaluation. It is concluded that end user searching represents an important step in allowing patrons to be self-sufficient in meeting their information needs and that libraries need to participate in this phase of the information-gathering process or face the possibility of a reduced role in the future. References are provided. (KM)