The mission and purposes of the public library -- The legal and financial framework -- Meeting the needs of customers -- Collection development -- Human resources -- The management of public libraries -- The marketing of public libraries -- Appendix 1. The IFLA/UNESCO public library manifesto -- Appendix 2. The Finnish library act 1998 -- Appendix 3. Library service customer charter, Buckinghamshire County Library -- Appendix 4. Library building standards : Ontario, Canada and Barcelona, Spain -- Appendix 5. Update of IFLA manifesto -- Appendix 6. Queensland standards and guidelines for public libraries.