Practical Tips for Successful Library Management

by Leo Appleton, Natasha Howard, Rowan Williamson

Overview

Today's library and information service managers need to be multi-skilled practitioners, demonstrating knowledge and understanding of multiple professional disciplines while working in operational and strategic managerial and leadership capacities. Managers need support in order to effectively work in such a diversity of professional environments and roles. This book draws on all sectors to support library and information managers in their management and leadership roles.

Practical Tips for Successful Library Management takes management theory and practice and places it within a library and information context so that readers can see how it can be applied in their own roles.

The book covers tips on broad themes such as:

• leadership and people management
• customer services and collections
• finance and budget management
• quality assurance
• stakeholder engagement.

You will find practical tips and implementation advice on topics including:

• personal wellbeing and professional engagement
• inclusive recruitment, developing and retaining staff
• managing online environments and teams
• space planning and sustainable design
• marketing and communications
• diversifying and decolonising collections
• advocacy, negotiation and influencing.

Part of the popular Practical Tips for Library and Information Professionals series, this essential book offers innovative tips and tried-and-tested best practice to enable library and information professionals to be excellent and effective managers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781783305575
Publisher:	Facet Publishing
Publication date:	08/15/2026
Series:	PTLIP Practical Tips for Library and Information Professionals
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224

About the Author

Leo Appleton is a Library and Information Services academic in the School of Information, Journalism and Communication at the University of Sheffield, having previously established a career in senior leadership of UK academic libraries. He is a chartered fellow of CILIP and is the editor-in-chief of the Taylor and Francis journal New Review of Academic Librarianship.

Natasha Howard is Head of Knowledge & Library Services at NELFT NHS Trust. She has over 20 years of experience in the library and information sector and was joint winner of the CILIP K&IM and UKeIG Information Manager of the Year Award 2020. She is Chartered Fellow of the CILIP: the Library and Information Association (FCILIP).

Rowan Williamson is Associate Director for Library Services at the University of the Arts London. She is a Chartered Information professional (MCLIP) and Senior teaching fellow (SFHEA) with experience of leading large and complex teams in library and information services in HE, FE and public libraries. She has been the chair of CILIP’s Digital Technology Group (DTG) for a number of years and won the Time Higher Education Award for Outstanding Library Service 2021.

Leo Appleton is the Director of Library Services at Goldsmiths, University of London . He has worked in a number of other universities and FE colleges where he has managed a multitude of services including libraries, IT Support, student administration and e-learning development. Leo editor of the CILIP MmIT Journal and is associate editor of both the New Review of Academic Librarianship and of the UKSG publication eNews.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Leadership and self-awareness
2. Organisational awareness
3. Project management
4. Strategic and business planning
5. Staying in touch with sector developments and innovations
6. Time management
7. Budget and people management
8. Team working
9. Quality assurance
10. Liaison and communication
11. Evaluation and responsiveness
12. Career planning and work-life balance

Conclusion