What Every Library Director Should Know

In this unconventional management text, author Dr. Susan Carol Curzon presents a different take on traditional library management tools. Through personal narrative and anecdotes from other working professionals, Curzon presents the many everyday challenges one meets as a library manager: • The unwritten rules, strategies, and bits of wisdom only learned on-the-job • Behavioral nuances • Political strategies • Mentor-like advice • Subtle communication codes Regardless of the professional setting, management is management and wisdom is wisdom. What Every Library Director Should Know is the insider’s view of vital actions, behaviors, and strategies needed to succeed in every type of library.

Table of Contents:
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

About the Author :
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.

Review :
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. 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. 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.