Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 226
•
Trim: 6 x 9
978-0-8108-9310-8 • Hardback • April 2014 • $128.00 • (£98.00)
978-0-8108-9187-6 • Paperback • April 2014 • $57.00 • (£44.00)
978-0-8108-9188-3 • eBook • April 2014 • $54.00 • (£42.00)
Dr. Susan Carol Curzon is the dean emeritus of the University Library of California State University, Northridge. Her previous positions include Director of Libraries for the City of Glendale, CA. and Regional Administrator for the County of Los Angeles Public Library. She also has experience in a corporate library.
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter One: At the Helm
Unbuckle the Organization
The Importance of Making a Good Impression
Controlling Expectations
Downstream Thinking
Conspiracy of Silence
Target Fixation
The Long-distance Runner
The Master of Integration
The Proof is in the Pudding
The Librarian-in-chief
Chapter Two: Customer Number One: Your Boss
Living the Context
Bucking the Boss
Being Tough with Yourself
Market Yourself
Relating to the Boss’ Boss
Relating Effectively
The Booster
Bad Bosses
Chapter Three: Engaging People
People Who Like People
Stand Up Director
Not One of the Gang
The Fighter in the Ring
The Actor on the Stage
Checking Your Ego
Building the Management Team
The Power Seekers
Driving the Staff Crazy
Minding the Message
Staff Morale
Relationships in the Workplace
Union actions
The Politically Connected Staff
Hello and goodbye
Chapter Four: Dealing with Boards and the Faculty Senate
Degrees of Control
Basic Principles
Developing an Agenda
Making the Board Look Good
Boards Under Siege
Bad Boards
Chapter Five: Dollar sense
The Breadwinner
Know the Dollars
Manage the dollars effectively
Walking the Straight and Narrow
The Boss and Money
Getting Audited
Managing Time
Employee Turnover
Chapter Six: The Borders of the Realm
A Friend Indeed
Network vs. Clique
The Danger Zone
Tattletale
Poachers
Friends of the Library
Community Groups
Student Associations
Elected Officials
Chapter Seven: Dealing with the Press
The Double-edged Sword
Being Interviewed: Preparation
The Written Word
Being Interviewed: Responding
The Drop-in Reporter
The Reporter: Friend or Foe?
Bad News Day
Two-week Rule
Staff Involvement
Chapter Eight: A Death in the Library
Emotional Impact
The Dying Colleague
Sharing the News
Attending the Funeral
Practical Concerns
A Grateful Library
The Year After
The Family of Staff
Chapter Nine: Changing Times
Taking Heart
Outside Forces of Change
Change Fatigue
Handling a Setback
The Price of Not Changing
Problems without Solutions
Project Management
Chapter Ten: Transitions
The New Kid on the Block
Promoted from Within
Accidental Director
Job Shock
The End of the Line: Fired
The End of the Line: Retired
The End of the Line: Resigned
Traveling Light
A Final Word
Authors of the Quotes
About the Author
This small book, written by a dean emeritus with experience in a number of libraries of various types, is an excellent guide on how to lead any library, should be read by directors, deans, managers, and those managing staff members, especially those on search committees. It demonstrates firmly that leadership is different from management in many ways and that people, not just the latest buzzwords and technology, make the organization. Covering the vast array of issues that can confront a director, it provides a straightforward, common sense approach to being the director of any library. It also brings up the notion that service to the customer, be it the public, faculty, students, or library board, is the number one priority in any library. Many things are covered here that are often left unspoken in other management textbooks, such as the management process around deaths or illness among staff. This volume emphasizes that a happy staff makes happy customers and other usually unwritten wisdom that is needed by a good director and leader. The pressures of being a director are not downplayed, but, all too unusually, this book also emphasizes the importance of the humanistic part of leadership.
— American Reference Books Annual
There are many books and articles to assist a library manager or director to study and reflect on what it takes to excel in organisational leadership; however, this title diverges from the norm. Rather than providing a management text, Curzon draws on her varied experience to talk directly to the reader, sharing her extensive knowledge and enriching this with nuggets of advice from other library directors. . . .The book is recommended as a reflective check-up for existing directors and a heads-up for intending ones. Much of the content will also be of interest to library managers at all levels. It is quick to read and will offer you understanding, insight, warning and challenge.
— Australian Library Journal
There are many current library management and administration books out there, but none of them distill the experience and knowledge and directness this book does. Dr. Curzon brings her extensive experience and breadth of knowledge to this book, and those who are currently in library director positions or thinking of moving their careers in this direction will benefit from the pearls of wisdom available in What Every Library Director Should Know.
— Bradford Eden, Dean of Library Sciences, Valparaiso University
Balancing a budget does not a leader make. Curzon has captured the nuances of effective leadership with wisdom, common sense, elegance, and a practical how-to approach. Here is a library mentor you can trust. The book fills a need you never even knew existed, until you start reading it.
— Uma Hiremath, Executive Director of Ames Free Library, Easton, Massachusetts