YOUR MONEY'S WORTH: Learn the Lingo of Finance

摘要

I wanted to call this column "Accountants Are from Mars, Librarians Are from Venus," but a librarian hearing about it said, "They're from farther away than that. Try Pluto." She meant the finance people, of course. That concept pretty aptly sums up my relationship with the gurus of the finance department. They are nice folks, but it is clear they come from a different planet. Most librarians achieve the exalted ranks of management by knowing a good deal about how to deliver library services, manage library workers, and get along with library boards. Many often don't know the arcane details of managing money. We can make budgets and complete the fiscal year without overspending, but as to the details of accounting and auditing practice, we're often completely in the dark.