Scarecrow Press Field Guide to Library and Information Agency Management

Product Description This guide identifies major concerns and involves interested parties in thoughtful consideration and discussion of challenges and opportunities embedded in managerial and administrative practice. By talking about the management of information places and with managers and mangers-to-be, authors Curran and Miller provide a more thorough and realistic outlook on the managerial experience. The authors assert that: · Information agencies of all stripes share a common purpose · The act of deciding is the primary administrative/managerial responsibility · Knowledge Management must replace mere acquisition, storage and dissemination · The budget process is every bit as important as the budget document · Interpersonal issues dominate · Meetings soak up time Tackling many issues that other management books won't touch (e.g. sex in the office place, cliques, emphasis on political behavior, specific mistakes that cripple managers, and managing contradictions and paradoxes), this book is an excellent resource for all administrators. Review Acknowledging the rapid changes in technologies and expectations for libraries and other information management agencies, and the special and diverse laws, rules, and standards of practice involved, Curran (library and information science, U. of South Carolina) and Miller (library and information science, Indiana U.) also cover many of the issues that others avoid, such as sex in the workplace, office cliques, political behavior, crippling mistakes and management contradictions. They describe the unique nature of the information place, the importance of decision-making, the process of budgeting (which is just as important as the budget document) and the external environment (such as privacy and laws regarding the expression of opinion.)--Reference and Research Book News Broad in scope and written in an easy-to-read style, this guide can most appropriately be used as an introduction to management for library and information science students....useful for those in larger organizations who need to conduct in-house management training sessions.--Info Career Trends About the Author Charles Curran has taught management and collection development at the School of Library and Information Science, Unversity of South Carolina. He has served elected and appointed offices in ALA and the Association for Library and Information Science Education, most recently as president of the latter. Lewis Miller is currently dean of libraries at Butler University in Indianapolis.