Managing in the Middle

by Robert Farrell (Editor), Kenneth Schlesinger (Editor)

Fully a third of all library supervisors are “managing in the ” reporting to top-level managers while managing teams of peers or paraprofessional staff in some capacity. This practical handbook is here to assist middle managers navigate their way through the challenges of multitasking and continual gear-shifting. The broad range of contributors from academic and public libraries in this volume help librarians face personal and professional challenges by Linking theoretical ideas about mid-level management to real-world situations Presenting ways to sharpen crucial skills such as communication, productivity, delegation, and performance management Offering specific advice on everything from supervision to surviving layoffsBeing a middle manager can be a difficult job, but the range of perspectives in this book offer strategies and tips to make it easier.

Genres: Nonfiction, Management, Library Science, Professional Development, Librarianship, Leadership

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2012

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A number of short essays/chapters on a variety of subjects relevant to being a middle manager in libraries. The quality of the entries varies - some are little more than laundry lists of other works to look at, while some are solid and compact presentations on an issue or skill set. I found the section on managing personnel most useful. This is a work to borrow and pick through to see what resonates,not something to read straight through.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays that deal with multiple topics concerning middle managers. I found some excellent tips in this, but some of the essays are for newer or less-trained middle managers than myself.

It's not necessary to read this cover-to-cover, but definitely worth skimming through and reading the essays that interest you... especially the one on procrastination.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this is going to come as a shock, but this book about library middle management was a *tad* dull. Disconnected academic-style articles, which were individually okay, but no overarching narrative. Not recommended unless you are writing a paper about library middle management.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of great short articles. inspiring for new or experienced library managers

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some good gems in it, but I just skimmed through most of it. I think it's a book that many middle managers can pick up and get selective things from it.

[ACRL]

Read by ACRL Member of the Week Steve Brantley. Learn more about Steve on the ACRL Insider blog.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short reflections (only a few pages) on different library management situations.