May 04 2009
by Zahra M. Baird and Patti McCall
Library employees are more often finding themselves in a position where they must cultivate leadership skills, regardless of their place on the organizational chart. While employers may or may not furnish leadership training opportunities, it is wise for librarians to actively seek out opportunities for leadership development. The good [...]
May 04 2009
by Veronica Arellano
Two years ago I began working at a large academic library. Like so many new library school graduates lucky enough to secure a full-time position, I was extremely excited. I was also all of the things that turn a new grad into a neurotic librarian mess: grateful that someone had hired me; nervous [...]
May 04 2009
Byke, Susanne, and Dawn Lowe-Wincentsen. A Leadership Primer for New Librarians: Tools for Helping Today’s Librarians to Become Tomorrow’s Library Leaders. Chandos. 2009. 167p. ISBN 9781843344193. $69.95.
A Leadership Primer for New Librarians is highly recommended, for several reasons. First, it is very readable; the information presented is accessible and easily adapted to daily use. The book [...]
Jan 02 2009
Carr, Jo Ann, ed. Leadership for Excellence: Insights of National School Library Media Program of the Year Award Winners. ALA Editions, 2008. 120p. ISBN 978-0-8389-0961-4. $43/$39.10 ALA members.
As one might expect from the title, Leadership for Excellence gives readers a glimpse into the workings of school library media programs that set the bar for the [...]
Sep 02 2008
Roberts, Sue and Rowley, Jennifer. Leadership: the Challenge for the information Profession. Facet Publishing, London, UK, 2008. ISBN 978-1-85604-609-1. 248p. $115.
In the first sentence of their introduction, Sue Roberts and Jennifer Rowling offer all information professionals and aspiring information professionals an open invitation to “reflect on and engage with the development of their leadership role [...]
Jul 01 2007
by Dawn Lowe-Wincentsen and Suzanne Byke
I recently heard the expression, “falling up the career ladder.” What an apt description for the sequence of events precipitated by someone in a leadership role retiring or leaving the organization - when you find yourself spontaneously promoted.
These events might cause you to feel unprepared for the [...]
Jul 01 2006
Brockmeyer, Donna. On Sybil’s Shoulders: Seeking Soul in Library Leadership. Scarecrow, 2005. ISBN 0810851202. $35.00.
The real crisis in librarianship today is in leadership. Library schools churn out new graduates with no idea what it means to be a manager or library leader. Library associations are just beginning to address this issue with [...]
Mar 01 2006
by Nanette Donohue
Imagine: thirty librarians, from a variety of library types, all at different stages of their careers, gathered in a large room with six round tables. Nobody is entirely sure what to expect, and there’s an atmosphere of nervousness and anticipation. The usual questions pop up: “Where do you [...]
Jan 01 2005
by Louise E. Alcorn
Many Nextgens - new, younger librarians - run into a brick wall when trying to get management and leadership experience, which is often required to move “up the ladder” to supervisory and administrative positions. How do you get that experience, if it is not offered to you as [...]
Nov 01 2004
by Chrissie Anderson Peters
Those with no real training in or natural inclination towards leadership nevertheless sometimes find themselves thrust into leadership positions. One common misconception about leadership is that leaders are somehow born with the qualities that make them effective. Even the great football coach Vince Lombardi maintained, however: “Leaders [...]