Casebook in College Library Administration

Book excerpt: A companion to Lyle's Administration of the College Library, by Caroline Coughlin & Alice Gertzog. Applying principles to practice is one of the most valuable exercises teachers can present to students. Designed for use in a course dealing with academic libraries or with library management, the twenty cases in this book describe problems that every college librarian will encounter in one form or another. Each has policy, political, practical, and procedural implications. Questions are offered at the conclusion of the cases to promote discussion, and suggested readings are supplied to help students investigate the cases in light of precedent and against the background of information provided in professional literature. Cases include "Mapplethorpe at McMillan"; "The Obsolescent Employee"; "At the Judge's Behest"; "Alumni Blues"; "The Single Mom"; and others.