An Approach to Performance Budgeting at the Florida Atlantic University Library

IN FALL, 1967, the author began the task of revitalizing and rebuilding the Florida Atlantic University library after the collapse of a much-heralded and publicized attempt to create the "only fully automated University Library in the world." The disappointment, frustration, disillusionment, anger, and bitterness which were part of the aftermath of failure infected everyone involved: the library staff, the staff of the computer center, the university administration, the office of the State Board of Regents, ·and the faculty and students of the university, who ultimately had to b~ar the real burdens of a library unable to function. The Technical Services Division was the focal point of the effort to bring the computer into the library. It was theresponsibility of this division to create the machine-readable data base which would support the management information system, create the necessary bibliographic records (including a computerbased book catalog), and make possible large scale programs in the area of in-