Managing the Small College Library

Book excerpt: This book helps directors of small college libraries to plan, staff, and organize their facilities and make the right decisions to effectively contribute to their college's mission. The purpose of this book is to provide the director of a small college library—typically defined as a facility managed by one to seven librarians—with information on every important managerial function specific to their facilities. This content will be much more useful for these library specialists than that of management books covering generic library management or targeted towards large academic settings. Managing the Small College Library covers the key responsibilities of the small college library director: personnel, planning, budgeting, and serving key constituencies. The author draws upon her in-depth knowledge of bureaucratic, political, and human resources managerial theory to explain how librarians can advance the mission of their library. It also includes an in-depth discussion of tenure and academic status for librarians, and examines the effects of both public and religious affiliation.