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Overview
Many librarians successfully make the transition to library manager, decide that it was a positive career move, and settle into a middle manager role for a period of years. After a few years they become recognized as experienced or senior managers. But what does being an experienced or 'senior' manager really mean? Is it a destination unto itself or a transitional role? What should one do to prepare for moving on? How best to stay put without stagnating?
Pixey Anne Mosley, author of Transitioning from Librarian to Middle Manager (2004) offers insights into the nature of professional growth, and caveats against the many destructive traps that managers who have been in the same role for several years can all too easily slip into. Essential reading for anyone beyond the salad days of their career, but particularly managers whose advancement has stalled or are in the early stages of questioning their effectiveness.
Synopsis
Many librarians successfully make the transition to library manager, decide that it was a positive career move, and settle into a middle manager role for a period of years. After a few years they become recognized as "experienced" or "senior" managers. But what does being an "experienced" or "senior" manager really mean? Is it a destination unto itself or a transitional role? What should one do to prepare for moving on? How best to stay put without stagnating?
Pixey Anne Mosley, author of Transitioning from Librarian to Middle Manager (2004), offers insights into the nature of professional growth and caveats against the many destructive traps that managers who have been in the same role for several years can all too easily slip into. Whether one decides to stay in place or plans to move into other roles, her advice is the same: keep up-to-date, hone old skills, and acquire new ones. She also suggests ways for experienced managers, who have been in the early stages of questioning their effectiveness, to recover from the many destructive traps and reestablish their former success.
"In this follow-up to Transitioning from Librarian to Middle Manager (2004), Mosley (Texas A&M Evan's Library) addresses the challenges of ongoing change and staff relationships and development, self-development, finding sources of financial support, and managing budgets. Case studies treat these critical areas plus mentoring managers, exploring career options, and delegating and regaining managerial authority as the job evolves. Chapters include critical thinking and discussion exercises."
Reference & Research Book News
Editorials
From the Publisher
"In this follow-up to Transitioning from Librarian to Middle Manager (2004), Mosley (Texas A&M Evan's Library) addresses the challenges of ongoing change and staff relationships and development, self-development, finding sources of financial support, and managing budgets. Case studies treat these critical areas plus mentoring managers, exploring career options, and delegating and regaining managerial authority as the job evolves. Chapters include critical thinking and discussion exercises."
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Reference & Research Book News
"This resource is fine for professional librarians who work in managerial positions in all types of libraries and who may be dealing with specific issues within their staffs. The writing is concise and clear, and the issues are presented in a no-nonsense tone that, although devoid of much humor, is authoritative and trustworthy. The reader feels that he is in the hands of someone who knows what she is talking about, which should be a comfort to the intended audience—the middle manager who may either want to step up his or her game or retire and pass on the torch."
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VOYA