SOCIAL SCIENCES

What Every Library Director Should Know

by Susan Carol Curzon
Rowman & Littlefield. 2014. 246p. index. ISBN 9780810893108. $85; pap. ISBN 9780810891876. $38; ebk. ISBN 9780810891883. PRO MEDIA
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Curzon (dean emeritus, California State Univ.; Managing Change: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians) professes from the beginning of this text that it is unlike other management books available—and the author is correct. The book's ten chapters cover expected topics such as "Engaging Staff" and "Dealing with the Press" but also address issues such as "A Death in the Library." Curzon's conversational tone is both welcome and refreshing. Directors inwardly murmuring, while in a difficult situation, "Well, there certainly isn't a handbook to cover this issue," will be proven wrong by this book. Even delicate issues, including keeping an exit strategy in mind and how to navigate the tense situation of space poachers consuming the library's resources are discussed in detail.
VERDICT Academic and public library directors interested in building their strengths as compassionate leaders will appreciate the candid dialog in this text, which combines Curzon's extensive experience with that of the book's many contributors who provide supporting commentary.
Reviewed by Kendra Auberry, Indian River State Coll. Lib., Port St. Lucie, FL , Sep 15, 2014
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