Library Management Problems Today: Case Studies

by Wayne Disher (Editor)

Overview

Here’s the first comprehensive case studies in library management book to be published since 1981!

The book use case studies gleaned from TODAY’S library world to help students take analytical approaches to library problems.

Much research points to the fact that students are more inductive than deductive reasoners. Therefore, books like this which provide actual examples to explore and think about are far more useful than many of the existing texts which start with theory and basic principles. Case studies are often used in business, law, and medical schools. This book will facilitate instructors pushing want students to explore how what they have learned applies to real world situations.

Cases are organized in six sections that parallel basic library management functions:

• Planning
• Organizing
• Leading
• Controlling
• Staffing
• Communicating

Each section features case studies , each with the case description and three responses from library leaders from a wide variety of library types and sizes.

Library Management Problems Today: Case Studies will allow students to put themselves in the center of actual library problems and ask “What would I do?”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538135921
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/25/2021
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.62(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Wayne T. Disher is a retired public library director for the City of Hemet Public Library. He serves as a lecturer for the San Jose State University School of Information. Mr. Disher served as president of the California Library Association in 2012. He received his master of library and information science degree at San José State University in 1994, and worked at San José Public Library System for 22 years managing library branches and units. Disher is the author of several library science textbooks, has been recognized as a library trainer, and professional development speaker for library staff.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

A Note to Instructors

Part I. Scenarios based on the management function of Planning

Chapter 1: Alice in SWOTerland: A Planning scenario using Problem Solving

Chapter 2: Hide the plan: A Planning scenario using Supposition

Chapter 3: I hear music: A Planning scenario using Supposition

Part II. Scenarios based on the management function of Organizing

Chapter 4: Challenge of book selection: An Organizing scenario using Skills

Chapter 5: My time is valuable too: An Organizing scenario using Problem Solving

Chapter 6: Thirty-eight percent reduction: An Organizing scenario using Supposition

Part III. Scenarios based on the management function of Leading

Chapter 7: The mean girl: A Leading scenario using Problem Solving

Chapter 8: Challenging the challenged: A Leading scenario using Difficult Professional Topics

Chapter 9: Budget woes: A Leading scenario using Problem Solving

Chapter 10: The new guy: A Leading scenario using Supposition

Part IV. Scenarios based on the management function of Controlling

Chapter 11: The cops: A Controlling scenario using Skills

Chapter 12: Story time can be a drag: A Controlling scenario using Difficult Professional Topics

Chapter 13: Sticky Situation: A Controlling scenario using Problem Solving

Chapter 14: Transitioning to a new job: A Controlling scenario using Difficult Professional Topics

Part V. Scenarios based on the management function of Staffing

Chapter 15: Experience or skills: A Staffing scenario using Problem Solving

Chapter 16: Jack of all trades: A Staffing scenario using Problem Solving

Chapter 17: Weeding out the bad news: A Staffing scenario Skills

Part VI. Scenarios based on the management function of Communicating

Chapter 18: A failure to communicate: A Communicating scenario using Difficult Professional Topics

Chapter 19: Professor privileges: A Communicating scenario using Difficult Professional Topics

Chapter 20: She seems creepy: A Communicating scenario using Difficult Professional Topics

About the author

Editorial Reviews

Leading organizations in the 21st century has become more difficult and challenging than at any other time in management history. Students looking to absorb skills and experience that can help them find their way through this complexity will find Wayne Disher’s unique text more than just a preparatory resource unlike most others. Disher’s, Library Management Problems Today: Case Studies, utilizes interactive, library themed scenarios that support active learning strategies such as problem-based learning. Disher’s scenarios are rooted in his immense knowledge of library science as both a past library director and a current university instructor. Readers will find that working through these timely, and thought-provoking storylines will help them apply their subject knowledge and problem solving skills in a safe, real-world context. It’s not easy to find engaging instructional tools in management studies, but Disher seems to have created the definitive text. It will be useful for instructors and students in management for decades.

Jeff Sheppard

In today’s increasingly complex library workplace, it can be hard to know how to handle thorny situations that regularly come up. The realistic library workplace scenarios included in this book are the perfect tool for students to develop their problem-solving skills. They will especially appreciate hearing how library leaders would handle these situations.

Sandra Hirsh

Forty years after AJ Anderson's influential LIS management publication, a new generation of LIS students and information professionals will benefit from Disher’s real-life case analyses of common and perplexing problems faced in 21st-century organizations. The engaging scenarios and resolutions offered by key library managers make this volume a must-have management compendium.

Susan W. Alman

The strength of Library Management Problems Today: Case Studies lies not only in the look at a multitude of solutions, but more importantly - in the diverse nature of problems presented. While most case or scenario teaching and learning curriculum focuses on the highest level issues, this text offers diverse levels and types of real-world issues facing the highest level managers, middle-level managers and frontline employees today. A valuable tool for discussing management roles and responsibilities, Disher offers more feedback on each case than most similar publications. In addition, there is also a strong and much-needed inclusion of a wide range of ethical problems and possible solutions so important and seldom taught in the contemporary classroom.

Julie Beth Todaro

Forty years after AJ Anderson's influential LIS management publication, a new generation of LIS students and information professionals will benefit from Disher's real-life case analyses of common and perplexing problems faced in 21st-century organizations. The engaging scenarios and resolutions offered by key library managers make this volume a must-have management compendium.

In today's increasingly complex library workplace, it can be hard to know how to handle thorny situations that regularly come up. The realistic library workplace scenarios included in this book are the perfect tool for students to develop their problem-solving skills. They will especially appreciate hearing how library leaders would handle these situations.

Leading organizations in the 21st century has become more difficult and challenging than at any other time in management history. Students looking to absorb skills and experience that can help them find their way through this complexity will find Wayne Disher's unique text more than just a preparatory resource unlike most others. Disher's, Library Management Problems Today: Case Studies, utilizes interactive, library themed scenarios that support active learning strategies such as problem-based learning. Disher's scenarios are rooted in his immense knowledge of library science as both a past library director and a current university instructor. Readers will find that working through these timely, and thought-provoking storylines will help them apply their subject knowledge and problem solving skills in a safe, real-world context. It's not easy to find engaging instructional tools in management studies, but Disher seems to have created the definitive text. It will be useful for instructors and students in management for decades.

The strength of Library Management Problems Today: Case Studies lies not only in the look at a multitude of solutions, but more importantly - in the diverse nature of problems presented. While most case or scenario teaching and learning curriculum focuses on the highest level issues, this text offers diverse levels and types of real-world issues facing the highest level managers, middle-level managers and frontline employees today. A valuable tool for discussing management roles and responsibilities, Disher offers more feedback on each case than most similar publications. In addition, there is also a strong and much-needed inclusion of a wide range of ethical problems and possible solutions so important and seldom taught in the contemporary classroom.

From the Publisher