Management Basics for Information Professionals

Citation

Cassell, K.A. and Mercado, M.I. (2000), "Management Basics for Information Professionals", The Bottom Line, Vol. 13 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.2000.17013dae.001

Management Basics for Information Professionals

Evans, G.E., Layzell Ward, P. and Rugaas, B.Neal-SchumanNew York2000

Keywords Management styles, Librarians, Managers, Information systems

Three eminent authors from the world of libraries and information have come together to write an all-encompassing book which discusses the complexities inherent in "people centered" management. This philosophy of "people centered management" is the central pivot around which the book revolves and is defined as the "accomplishment of things with, through and for people." Because this book is meant to provide a comprehensive introduction to the management of libraries and other information centers, the emphasis is on the acquisition of basic management background and skills by those entrusted to oversee the operation of information service organizations. Thus, the purpose is to give librarians and other information professionals a broad and current overview of the area of library and information center management.

Given the fact this book is meant to be a management textbook, it is logically organized in three parts. Each chapter is followed by sets of citations. First, topically related citations of books and journals, followed by the literature from library and information science, both related to the preceding chapter's theme. Part I provides background, in three chapters, which discuss extensively the essential concepts, definitions, and perspectives necessary to "comprehend and discuss the 'science' of management."

Part II, "Management knowledge and skills," provides what the authors see as the required knowledge and skills needed by the neophyte manager. Such basic skills are:

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  basic planning;

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  understanding the linkages and differences among power, authority and responsibility;

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  delegation;

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  motivation;

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  leadership.

In Part III, the authors discuss the four areas where most library and information center managers spend most of their time and efforts. These include personnel issues, fiscal management, technological management and facilities management. Each chapter is followed by a brief summary of the subject matter. Because of the quality of the summaries, we wish that the summaries had contained more discussion.

Each chapter contains brief blurbs entitled, "For further thought," and "Tips." For example, in Chapter 3, "Environmental issues," the authors, under "For further thought," suggest food for thought. They suggest that the reader list four changes that are most likely to impact on library and information services, and project their implementation within the next year, five years and ten years hence. The reader is then asked to compare their choices with those of a colleague. For those who teach and train librarian information professionals, this is a very great technique to stimulate discussions for both the graduate classroom and for training sessions for library and information professionals.

In the Preface, the authors tell us that they have arranged for this book's content to be updated and supplemented by material found on the World Wide Web. At review, only one URL was functional (http://www.IMU.edu/mbiF.com). This Web site contained good material quite relevant to management in the twenty-first century, including three additional chapters (18-20), an Annual Reference Update and an article written by one of the authors, Professor Patricia Layzell Ward, entitled "An overview of the literature of management and library services," reprinted from Library Management, published by MCB University Press, Vol. 21 No. 3, 2000. The three chapters discuss cultural diversity's focus on people and its relevance to "people centered" management, women in management, and management issues relative to career development. Each chapter followed the plan of the published version including references. Since the aforementioned topics are vitally important to management issues, we felt these should have been integrated into the published book. Basically, the Annual Reference Update contains for each chapter in the published version, a more up-to-date literature review of library and information science journals. For those who wish to be current, this feature is first rate. We found Layzell Ward's overview of the literature of management and library services an excellent up to date companion to the published book.

It appears that to have such significant literature relegated to Web pages can be counter productive. For example, if one wishes to download these additional chapters, one has to download over 100 pages. Although Adobe Acrobat is a free download, one has to have it in one's computer before the pages can be seen. All of this takes time and effort. In reality, this book should have been two books in instead of one. The authors have presented a thoughtful, creative and provocative book whose ideas provide food for thought concerning the very nature of library and information services management. We recommend this book not only for faculty, but also for the graduating librarians, graduate students and information professionals.

Kay A. CassellAssociate Director, Programs and Services for the New York Public Library's Branch Libraries

Marina I. MercadoAdjunct Faculty Member at Mercy College, New York, and a consultant in international business