Banner Ad Assistance

I was not sure where this post fit, but he we go.

I have little experience with purchasing banner ad space. I am not talking about Affiliate Networking per say, but approaching a specific website and paying for space for our banner advertisement.

What is the best way to go about this?
What are typical costs, or is there a resource to review costs?
Any good books to read?
What success have you had?

Essentially, we want control of what site the banner is located, where it is located on the site and the banner design. Many of the Affiliate Networks that are involved with some of our departments do not allow such control. They decide which site and where on the site our banner will be. I want to get away from that.

Thanks for the help.