Book description
First published in 1980, Street-Level Bureaucracy received critical acclaim for its insightful study of how public service workers, in effect, function as policy decision makers, as they wield their considerable discretion in the day-to-day implementation of public programs. Three decades later, the need to bolster the availability and effectiveness of healthcare, social services, education, and law enforcement is as urgent as ever. In this thirtieth anniversary expanded edition, Michael Lipsky revisits the territory he mapped out in the first edition to reflect on significant policy developments over the last several decades. Despite the difficulties of managing these front-line workers, he shows how street-level bureaucracies can be and regularly are brought into line with public purposes. Street-level bureaucrats—from teachers and police officers to social workers and legal-aid lawyers—interact directly with the public and so represent the frontlines of government policy. In Street-Level Bureaucracy, Lipsky argues that these relatively low-level public service employees labor under huge caseloads, ambiguous agency goals, and inadequate resources. When combined with substantial discretionary authority and the requirement to interpret policy on a case-by-case basis, the difference between government policy in theory and policy in practice can be substantial and troubling. The core dilemma of street-level bureaucrats is that they are supposed to help people or make decisions about them on the basis of individual cases, yet the structure of their jobs makes this impossible. Instead, they are forced to adopt practices such as rationing resources, screening applicants for qualities their organizations favor, "rubberstamping" applications, and routinizing client interactions by imposing the uniformities of mass processing on situations requiring human responsiveness. Occasionally, such strategies work out in favor of the client. But the cumulative effect of street-level decisions made on the basis of routines and simplifications about clients can reroute the intended direction of policy, undermining citizens' expectations of evenhanded treatment. This seminal, award-winning study tells a cautionary tale of how decisions made by overburdened workers translate into ad-hoc policy adaptations that impact peoples' lives and life opportunities. Lipsky maintains, however, that these problems are not insurmountable. Over the years, public managers have developed ways to bring street-level performance more in line with agency goals. This expanded edition of Street-Level Bureaucracy underscores that, despite its challenging nature, street-level work can be made to conform to higher expectations of public service.
Boost Princess
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Icy Avenger
ListenBook's dedication to providing a top-quality audio player is evident in every aspect of the app. Audiobooks have become a source of inspiration and motivation, thanks to this app. ListenBook's sleek design and easy chapter access make navigation a breeze. The detailed listening stats are fantastic. Helps me keep track of my progress.
Firefly Caramel
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Twisty Freesia
The app's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically is a huge time-saver. The adjustable playback speed is a revelation. It's like having a personal audiobook narrator at my pace. ListenBook's player features, like chapters and bookmarks, make it a versatile tool for any listener.
Bitmap
ListenBook's commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every detail. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a unique feature that adds a personalized touch to the listening experience. This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work! This audiobook transformed my household chores into enjoyable moments! The narrator's lively yet measured delivery kept me engaged throughout. I particularly appreciated how they handled exposition - making potentially dry information interesting through thoughtful inflection and pacing.
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Casanova
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Mad Robin
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Crash Enforcer
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Old Orange Eyes
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Tin Fox
This app's ease of use has made my long drives educational and enjoyable. ListenBook has become my trusted companion for literary adventures. The app's features are exceptional. I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Winter Underdog
ListenBook Pro offers amazing value with unlimited audiobook length and noise reduction features. ListenBook has become my trusted companion, guiding me through the realms of imagination. AirDrop and sharing make it easy to spread the audiobook love with friends.
Silver Rose
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1st Degree
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Chuckles
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ListenBook's sleek design and easy chapter access make navigation a breeze. Listening stats motivate me to read more. Great feature!
The Shield Toronto
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Night Train
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personalized touch to my audiobook experience. As an audiobook enthusiast, I'm in awe of ListenBook's advanced features. The ability to adjust the reader's voice tone is a unique and fun addition.
Captain Peroxide
Language courses on audiobooks helped me pick up a new language effortlessly. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection. Looping playback is a game-changer for my study sessions. I can focus on challenging content. I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience