Fundamentals of Library Supervision

by Joan Giesecke, Beth McNeil

You’re about to become a library supervisor! In addition to excitement you may also feel some uncertainty. Mentor, creator, monitor, and negotiator are some of the roles a supervisor must play, and wearing that many hats is a challenge that requires discipline and organization (and a healthy sense of humor). This newly updated and revised edition of a classic text will give you the grounding to supervise, manage, and lead with confidence. A perfect handbook for those just moving into a supervisory position, and a welcome refresher for current managers, this resource focuses on daily, real-world issues, offering
discussion of how to foster a positive work environment by determining the character of your organization;
dozens of sample interview questions suitable for different contexts, and other pointers on the hiring process;
advice on supervising all different kinds of employees, from those with “structural” personalities to creative types;
tactics for leading productive and focused staff meetings;
guidance on how to develop shared accountability, overcoming the decision dilemma so common in group settings, and other strategies for building successful teams;
easy to follow tips for making email a genuine productivity tool;
methods for meeting deadlines through backward planning;
11 steps for developing a clear and balanced performance appraisal;
techniques for actively addressing complaints; and
examples of non-monetary staff rewards such as flexible scheduling, job enrichment, and celebrations.
Guiding supervisors through the intricate process of managing others, this to-the-point handbook addresses the fundamental issues facing those taking on this position.

Genres: Nonfiction, Library Science, Management, Leadership, Reference, Read For School, Self Help

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Phantom_fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on management. Much better than most I've read. I would say it could be applied to any management position and be a success. It's basic and clean. Well done.

[Kassi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great overview of management best practices. Some of the information was dated, but besides that, this provided great insight into work relationships and management styles within a library setting. I found the chapters about communication, motivation, and management styles particularly interesting.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curious to get some practical understanding of stresses & obligations people are going through, this was a helpful read. Librarians are generally busy people with a lot of stuff going on! Even without the specifics of projects deadlines, internal meetings & staffing, this book seems to cover a lot of areas. I was exhausted just reading about what basic stuff supervisors have to go through to get through a week. Time is truely a precious commodity.

[Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good ideas for management, very little of which is library specific. The author should learn to embrace the use of "they" instead of the constant, clunky "her or she". They is not a bad word and the refusal to use it makes an already somewhat tedious book just that much more difficult to read.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish the book or my library career.

[quasialidia · Rating 4 out of 5]

the promotion of personality tests is a draw back, also at times not very consistent about how to not promot stereotypes when some of the evidence used is very biased towards confirming stereotypes.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great handbook for first time library supervisors as it provides templates for important things such as meeting minutes, memos, noncash incentives, and more. It also discusses the all too real fact that the majority of library workers are baby boomers, but there are also some veterans, generation Xers, and generation Yers in there too that require specialized treatment and incentive programs. It doesn't discuss running the library from the customer stand point, but from the worker stand point and so you would have to supplement it with titles that discuss dealing with difficult people, customers, children, and so on as well.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing note-worthy, really. Probably a good reference for new supervisors or for someone who is struggling in a particular area - like running a meeting, project management, the differences among different generations of employees, hiring and interviewing, performance reviews, orientation and training, time management, and cash and non-cash performance rewards. American in focus, too broad to be super useful - but at least it is a slim book.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A guide for managers and supervisors in the library field. Focuses on supervising individuals (hiring/interviewing, training, and managing performance), managing groups (teamwork, group dynamics, organizing work, and managing meetings), and leading organizations.

[Jana]

I am actually reading the 2nd edition, but that is not shown here.
So far, this is the best book I have found for young, new managers in a library setting!

[Cathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise, readable, and practical. Not only did I use this for class, but I've already had occasion to reference it in my position. Recommended.

[Marcia Steeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

great overview of huan resources in a library

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it might not be groundbreaking like other reviewers said, I love the clarity and organization of the book. Excellent resource for first time library supervisors, like me.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

very general background, nothing groundbreaking but a good beginning framework for thinking about management in a library.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised by how accessible and approachable this book is, and how helpful it’s been for both practical and more theoretical aspects of my current management position.