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Some time ago, an engineering firm which used to meet union officials only when the need arose — to sort out disputes, and so on — decided to start seeing the union men regularly, reason or no reason. Since then, the two sides have been getting together, just sitting and talking, about once a week. For the first time they have learnt to listen to each other. As problems crop up, they are discussed. Sometimes the problem dissolves as one side talks and the other side listens. Sometimes, according to a manager who has attended these sessions, a solution gradually emerges after two or three meetings. The meetings have already paid for themselves. Since these informal listening sessions began, no major disputes have flared up.

The adoption of more participative styles of management is one of our current goals: they are preferable because they enable the subordinate to improve his contribution and thereby gain more satisfaction in his job. By contrast authoritarian styles of management are limiting to the subordinate. To abandon an authoritarian style and substitute for it a more participative style is not easy. It has to be carried out in all activities which involve inter‐personal relationships. In this article Mr B Maude describes what is involved in changing from an authoritarian approach to the participative approach in the business of running a meeting.

With public suspicion about big business heightened by last year's crop of financial scandals, it's more important than ever for management to be wary of any action that smacks of malpractice. Failure to act scrupulously, says Barry Maude, can not only hit the guilty company's balance sheet but also prod Government into even more intervention in industry's affairs.

Management consultant and author, Barry Maude, looks at some of the ways individual companies have set about improving management communication. As one chief executive comments: “Providing the heads of key functions work together as a team, the company to a large extent manages itself.”

Growing demand for detailed and accurate information about company affairs — spurred by the Morpeth proposals on inflation‐adjusted accounts and laws affecting disclosure — means an end to the conventional reports containing facts and figures which are incomprehensible to the laymen. Barry Maude looks at the efforts some companies are making to meet the “tell all” challenge.

The efficiency of meetings is boosted by providing a good working environment. The right size of room, suitable seating arrangements, and even the size and shape of the table can lead to better decisions — and happier decision‐makers.

THIS number of THE LIBRARY WORLD closes one of the most distinguished years in the history of libraries. The opening of the National Central Library by the King on November 7th was undoubtedly the most important public happening in this country, not only of that particular day, but for a very long period. For the first time the highest personage in the land gave his countenance and approval to the work of the public library through the National Central Library which is its natural crown. In describing the Library as “a university which all may join and which none may ever leave,” His Majesty added a memorable phrase to library literature, and gave a new impulse to library activity.

We wondered how long it would be before a call would go out to ban asbestos in paint coatings — not that we are aware of asbestos being used in any formulations over the past few years. Now, proposals have been made not only to ban retail sales of decorative paint finishes which contain asbestos but also sales through trade outlets, says Rachel Waterhouse, chairman of the Consumers' Association.

SEPTEMBER was free from large‐scale visits of bombers, and the arrangements the Associations made for meetings were realized. The Library Association, challenging the criticism that it was making no programme for the peace, requested its branches to produce ideas. Thus, those who made the criticism were asked to define their terms, as it were. The first outcome was a joint meeting of the London and Home Counties Branch and the A.A.L. which was held at the delightful new St. Marylebone Library on September 24th. Another joint meeting in London was that at the Institution of Electrical Engineers on September 26th, when the British Society of International Bibliography and A.S.L.I.B. actually met in quite substantial numbers to discuss the indexing and listing of periodicals. These activities are expressions of confidence in the future by librarians and those concerned with libraries. If the immediate results are not dramatic they keep us in good heart, and we hope will lead to other meetings.