The purpose of this study was to survey business managers and library directors in order to identify variables affecting the final decision on library budgets in institutions awarding at least the baccalaureate, but less than the doctorate degree. / Seventy-five institutions, 5.3%, were randomly selected from a 1,412 population and surveyed in March, 1978. A total of 125 (83.3%) questionnaires were returned from 150 questionnaires mailed to business managers and library directors of sample institutions. A questionnaire was returned by either the business manager, library director or both from 73 of the 75 sample institutions giving an institutional response of 97.3%. / The research questions for this study were: (1) What budgeting variables do library directors and business managers perceive as affecting the final decision on library budgets? (2) To what extent does the literature cover the variables affecting the final decision on library budgets as reflected by library directors and business managers? (3) To what degree are budgeting principles applied to the final decision on library budgets? (4) Does the type of budgeting technique affect the final decision on library budgets? (5) What quantifiable variables affect the final decision on library budgets? (6) To what extent does the library program affect the final decision on library budgets? / Findings. Forty-nine budgeting variables were identified by library directors and forty-five variables were given by business managers with thirty-eight common variables. There was a positive correlation (.76) between these common budgeting variables. / By combining the weighted percentage of each variable, the overall top ten budgeting variables were: (1) Estimate of income, (2) Size of student body, (3) Number of academic programs, (4) Last year's library budget, (5) Librarian's recommendation, (6) Last year's institutional budget, (7) Inflation factor, (8) Tuition, (9) Dean's recommendation, and (10) Accrediting agencies. / A survey of the literature on librarianship and higher education resulted in the classification of budgeting variables into four broad categories: external variables, the budgeting process, quantifiable variables, and the library program. An analysis of the literature variables and those identified by the sample respondents revealed that the variables chosen by respondents are reflected in the literature. The extent of coverage varies with variable category, with quantifiable variables being ranked more extensively than other literature categories. / Budgetary principles are applied in the decision-making process concerning the library budgets. Last year's library budget is used as the base for establishing this year's budget in the majority of survey institutions. The point in the budgetary decision-making process where the final decision is reached on the library budget will generally be in the budget committee's or business manager's meeting with the chief executive officer. / The predominant budgeting technique used by survey institutions is incremental/line item. The type of budgeting technique used appears to have little effect on the final decision on the library budget. / Twenty-one of the forty-nine budgeting variables identified by library directors are quantifiable. Twenty-two of the forty-five budgeting variables identified by business managers are quantifiable. The first six variables ranked by library directors are quantifiable, while business managers ranked four of their top six as quantifiable. / The library program (services it provides) as a whole, and used in its broad context, does have an effect on the final decision concerning the library budget; however, individual components of the program have limited influence on the final decision. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 41-03, Section: A, page: 0838. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1980.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74119 |
| Contributors | GILLESPIE, DAVID M., The Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 174 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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