Some truths stand the test of time. Such is the statement made more than 2,500 years ago by the Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu: "He who knows others is clever; he who knows himself is enlightened."

This Self-Assessment Library has been created to help you to learn more about yourself so that you might become "enlightened." It draws on numerous instruments that have been developed by psychologists and other behavioral scientists that tap into your skills, abilities, and interests.

This library of behavioral questionnaires has been designed to supplement a wide range of college courses. These include: Introduction to Management, Organizational Behavior, Supervision, Interpersonal Skills, Introduction to Business, Careers in Business, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and Social Psychology.

The choice to include or exclude an instrument in this library was made against two criteria. First, did it meet my relevancy test? Would it provide valuable insights to the user? I had to live with space limitations, so a few interesting and popular instruments had to be excluded. However, I tried to minimize these omissions by continually asking: Does this instrument provide important information to help individuals better manage their work-lives or careers? The 50 or so instruments that I've included here essentially meet my relevancy test. I hope they meet yours.

My second criterion related to validity. Self-assessment instruments vary widely on this dimension. Some have literally hundreds of studies demonstrating their effectiveness, whereas others seem to have been created out of thin air. I've tried to minimize inclusion of the latter. However, you will find a few that because of their popularity or relevance ("they're not great, but they're the best that's out there!") are included despite their limitations.

Stephen P. Robbins