Conflict Management for Libraries: Strategies for a Positive, Productive Workplace

by Jack G. Montgomery, Eleanor I. Cook

While projecting a calm and peacefulness, libraries are not immune to workplace stress and conflict. In a research survey conducted over three years, the authors asked, "What are the common causes of workplace conflict in libraries?" From the results of the study, as well as formal and informal observations, the authors have developed 17 scenarios of library workplace conflict, along with realistic ways to manage them. Drawing on these stories from the trenches, expert counsel from a human resources counselor and managerial consultant, and their own years of experience, the authors share three distinctive points of view for a balanced perspective to reconcile even the stickiest situation. They offer an array of tools to create a positive working environment, stay on track with achieving goals, and live the mission of the library. Helping to build a healthy working environment, they supply the necessary tips to help Understand the roots of conflict that typically arise every day in libraries; Anticipate and prepare to manage problems when they appear; Use appropriate strategies to work successfully with all parties; Choose from a variety approaches to dissipate conflict; Library administrators, directors, managers, and supervisors in any library setting will find a valuable framework for understanding, interpreting, and defusing workplace conflicts using these library-specific examples.

Genres: Nonfiction

220 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly about management and how they can deal with employee-to-employee and employer-to-employee conflict. There was only one example about employee-to-patron conflict.

One chapter titled "Bringing Personal Baggage to Work" was interesting.

Favorite Quotes:

One cannot not communicate. Even silence sends a message.

You mean you're a witch? Oh, dear God in heaven! (one employee's response to another employee's admission to being Wiccan.)

[A] person stripped of their dignity is a dangerous person indeed. A person can be hired, supervised, disciplined and even fired with dignity. If you violate the cardinal rule, or allow someone else under your control to do so, you may, in fact, be contributing to unimaginable horror.

[Samuel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Books such as this should exist, no question. This one, however, didn't seem to me to add anything to the dozens of other management books I've read. The case studies could spark some useful conversation, and maybe it would be useful for a librarian who hadn't had any management or conflict resolution training. But if you've read even cursorily in either of those fields, this is pretty much just more of the same, alas.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books was easy to read and the scenarios were entertaining - mostly because they are true. It's not full of new information, but certainly useful as a reminder of basic management ideas that are easy to forget sometimes. It would be helpful for any one new to supervision - to see what's out there and maybe understand that management is serious business :).

[Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

See my note on it in my blog:

http://gypsylibrarian.blogspot.com/20...

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the middle section with all the scenarios. The rest was just okay. I feel like it would be really difficult to learn about conflict management from reading a book.