The path towards leadership starts with you. But you don't have to go it alone. For this book, the authors sat down with many of the library leaders they most admire for a series of conversations about the aspects of the job that they find the most fascinating (and challenging). Much like the chats you might have over coffee at a conference or…

Changes and innovations in higher education learning and teaching acted as a catalyst for rethinking the way in which service was delivered to library clients at Australian Catholic University. The Single Service Point was piloted at one campus library in 2014 to develop a best practice approach to service delivery. The merging of cultures within…

As managers of special collections engage with evolving formats and technologies, it is imperative that these professionals remain well versed in papyrus, paper, and principles that inform archival work. The permanence of this content defines our past, informs our present, and shapes our future. However, a constricting interpretation of archival…

This article describes the use of scenarios as a tool to assist a large distance learning library service in its strategic planning. Through a description of the scenario process from beginning to end, the authors detail the steps that the library director and the consultant took initially; their missteps; and the successful conclusion. This study…

Discusses benefits and drawbacks of a team approach to building a library Web site, based on experiences of redesigning the Web site at Wake Forest University's library. Considers the community context at Wake Forest, including laptop computers being issued to students, faculty, and staff; and support needed from library administrators. (LRW)

As libraries change to meet the evolving needs of our patrons, including the development of online services, many libraries are considering consolidating physical service points to maximize staff and better serve the in-house patron. This article describes the planning, implementation, and evaluation process involved in merging the circulation and…

Disaster preparedness is an important issue in library management today. This article presents a general overview of the theoretical aspects of disaster planning in libraries. The stages of disaster planning are a circular process of planning, prevention, response, recovery, preparedness, and training.

Proposes use of quality circles (QCs)--groups of employees who meet to learn and apply techniques for solving problems affecting work or workplace--to involve library employees in decision-making process and improve morale and product/service quality. Basic philosophy, establishment of QC, and QC techniques are noted. Twelve references are…

At Dickenson College, librarians have found ways, such as professional sharing, to become more significant partners with faculty and students in the educational mission of the college. This is one of the top five winners in American Libraries' competition to identify innovative library programs. (LLS)

Describes the 16 personality types identified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and explores the use of this measure in libraries to help staff better understand themselves and each other, and to aid library administrators in balancing work groups and interacting with staff. A selected bibliography of 3 books, 3 professional manuals, and 2…

Describes use of quality circles (QC)--small groups of employees who meet regularly and voluntarily to identify, solve, and implement solutions to work-related problems--as a form of participative decision making, highlighting QC concept, establishing a QC, introduction process, management support, benefits, evaluation, and shortcomings. Thirteen…

Steps for implementing team management in libraries are discussed in the first of four articles. The second reviews the use of quality circles in librarianship, the third describes the implementation of self-management teams in technical services, and the fourth discusses nominal group technique as a team development tool. (CLB)

Describes the North Suburban Library System (Chicago) experience of becoming a Learning Organization which involves issues relating to management, decision making, knowledge transfer, and empowerment at all staff levels. Discusses teamwork, collaborative efforts, communication, information sharing, annual planning, and staff development and…

Proposes a new transitional budget model to help make libraries adept at and comfortable with change during the transition to an increasingly electronic knowledge environment, emphasizing staff education and training, new service opportunities, user responsiveness, teamwork, fiscal empowerment, and more effective management systems. (Contains nine…

Describes a project in which 15 public libraries in the Bay Area Library and Information System undertook simultaneous local planning using the Public Library Development Program planning and role setting process. Areas discussed include planning team workshops and meetings, implementation of the planning process, writing the planning document,…