Managing 21st Century Libraries

by Lyndon Pugh

Overview

It seems that being in a state of uncertainty is the overwhelming characteristic of library organizations today, but there are ways in which this can be used to improve our organizations. The power of negative capability is that it supports reflection and measured thinking, and in the right sort of organization, it will release creative energy. This book presents the characteristics of those organizations.

Managing 21st Century Libraries is primarily concerned with creating the circumstances in which people can maximize the use of their talents and generating the opportunities for people to work with others in ways that engage all of the abilities of everyone involved. It is about developing an organization that is an interesting, stimulating, provocative, and effective place to work. Above all, the book is about the ways in which library managers and staff can develop systems for managing contemporary library services, and thus take advantage of the unique combination of circumstances that provide the potential for innovative organization development in the library services of today. It relates important issues in people management to the characteristics of libraries that deal significantly with both digital and printed material.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810851856
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/20/2005
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.57(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Lyndon Pugh has served as Head of Learning Resources at the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff. He currently teaches management in the Department of Information Studies at the University of Wales Aberystwyth.

Table of Contents

Part 1 List of Figures Part 2 Acknowledgments Part 3 Introduction Part 4 Part 1: The Background and the Basics Chapter 5 1. Contemporary Library Characteristics Chapter 6 2. A Modern Perspective Chapter 7 3. Structures Part 8 Part 2: Managing People in Contemporary Libraries Chapter 9 4. Skills for Managing and Learning Chapter 10 5. Leadership Chapter 11 6. The Player Manager Chapter 12 7. Motivation Part 13 Part 3: A Solution Chapter 14 8. Some Team Issues Chapter 15 9. A Team Model Part 16 Bibliography Part 17 Index Part 18 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

A valuable guide to creating an organization for the e-future.

Booklist

I enjoyed the urgency and the thoroughness of the author on current and future management possibilities that are more pliable and effective for library management for the future....of interest to all library administrators and managers.

Info Career Trends

Pugh (information studies, U. of Wales) shows how traditional and conservative approaches to library management do not work with libraries confronting the e-future, and proposes strategies to get libraries up-to-date and keep them there, including how to maximize employee skills and abilities. He describes modern libraries and gives a new perspective on operations and structure, explains the skills needed to manage and learn, the role of leadership, the player manager, and motivation and also describes how teams work in the context of the modern library.

Reference and Research Book News

...well written, concise, and practical and provides an excellent discussion of why the traditional management approaches are no longer appropriate for contemporary libraries....Librarians and other professionals who are in management roles in a library, or who aspire to such a role, would benefit from reading Managing 21st Century Libraries. The book would also be useful for library science students. It would be an excellent addition to academic libraries, particularly those that serve faculty members and students in library science or related disciplines.

American Reference Books Annual

A valuable guide to creating an organization for the e-future.

Booklist

...well written, concise, and practical and provides an excellent discussion of why the traditional management approaches are no longer appropriate for contemporary libraries....Librarians and other professionals who are in management roles in a library, or who aspire to such a role, would benefit from reading Managing 21st Century Libraries. The book would also be useful for library science students. It would be an excellent addition to academic libraries, particularly those that serve faculty members and students in library science or related disciplines.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)

This book would suit any librarian...[it] reminds the reader that regardless of whether a library is print, digital or a hybrid, staff remain significant, if not crucial, to the library service of today and tomorrow.

Australian Library Journal