The economic environment of libraries
Second semester * Clayton
This subject will apply economic concepts to contemporary problems facing librarians. It will include a study of (a) libraries seen in the context of the economic system, (b) the economic constraints impinging on libraries and (c) some of the methods of analysis which may be appropriate to an understanding of the economic life of the library. Economic issues concerning the production, distribution, and consumption of information will be studied. Topics will include public goods theory and the pricing of library services; the economics of copyright, patents and public lending right; collection management; project appraisal; and the `information economy'.