Mistakes in Academic Library Management: Grievous Errors and How to Avoid Them

by Jack E. Fritts Jr. (editor)

Mistakes in Academic Library Grievous Errors and How to Avoid Them addresses the most common library management issues, examining mistakes that anyone in a library management position could make, coupled with suggestions for how the issue could be better handled or avoided. The result is the recognition and formation of tools to aid developing managers in identifying potential pitfalls.

Jack E. Fritts Jr. addresses a range of management issues, including campus politics, communication, information technology, staff, and planning. There is also a chapter that addresses library management from the perspective of a chief academic officer. All those in library management positions, or who aspire to library management positions, will profit from the discussions of common but potentially severe mistakes in library management presented in this book.

140 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 2009

Reviews

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Largely a restating of what can be found in the business literature as a whole, this book addresses specific and hypothetical scenarios in academic library management. I found the bibliographies of each chapter to be the most helpful part, as the narrative was often told like a story using made-up librarian characters and then evaluating their mistakes.

A good reminder of how important skills like communication, project management, and change management are for those who manage academic libraries. I'd like to see a volume 2 - how to cope in libraries with managers who MAKE these grievous errors.