The Accidental Library Manager

Gordon, Rachel Singer. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, NJ: Information Today, 2004.  362 pages. [ISBN 1573872105]

In The Accidental Library Manager, Rachel Singer Gordon has written an introduction to library management which is broad in scope and readable.  Gordon successfully supports her thesis that librarian skills can readily be translated to library management, but her broad treatment of the subject results in some topics being discussed in more general terms and with less detail than might be desired.

The title refers to library managers who attain their position “…by accident, without a planned step-by-step progression up the career ladder. “ Gordon’s thesis is to provide “information to help you successfully settle into—and carry on in—any library management position, and thoughts on using your library skills to become a more effective manager.”  The author is the founder and webmaster of Lisjobs.com (a library career site), a monthly columnist for Library Journal on technology issues and a noted author/presenter on career development issues for librarians.

The Accidental Library Manager is intended mainly for an audience of librarians new to management, or those considering a career in library management.  The work is logically organized: after introducing her topic and thesis, and after devoting one chapter to the description of levels and characteristics of library management positions, Gordon embarks on a series of chapters, each of which present one aspect of library management (such as personnel considerations, budget or communications).   She concludes with a chapter proposing next career steps for the library manager.  Two appendices are included: the first describes her career survey methodology, and the second presents Internet resources organized by chapter topic.  The content is highly relevant to management of modern libraries, and addresses concepts such as diversity and generational issues (Chapter 4), technology and outsourcing (Chapter 7) and managing change (Chapter 8).
Gordon’s style is informal and effective. She writes in the 2nd person and frequently includes excerpts of interviews with her career survey respondents which lend some variety to the “voice” of the book and make it quite readable. 

Gordon’s writing is most effective in chapters 3 through 6, in which she discusses personnel considerations, communication and generational issues from the perspective of a manager.  Chapter 6 (“What Library Staff Want”), which comprises a series of quotes from disgruntled library staff who relate harrowing experiences with past managers, is particularly effective and entertaining and should serve as a warning to any potential library manager.

In contrast, some of the later chapters seem overly general and uninformative.  Early in Chapter 9 (“Managing Money”) Gordon states that “In-depth explanations of financial statements, budgets, and cost-benefit analysis beyond the scope of this book…”, and while she provides several references at the end of the chapter for further reading, the balance of the chapter left me unsatisfied and looking for more specifics. The overall effect achieved by Gordon is readable but general.

Other recent authors have used a different strategy in writing about library management. In Managing 21st Century Libraries (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. 2005) Lyndon Pugh omits any discussion of budgeting, strategic planning or other traditional management topics.  He instead digs deeply into two aspects of library management (organizational structure and utilization of staff skills) in which he perceives a significant opportunity for increased effectiveness.  While not as comprehensive a look at library management as Gordon’s work, Pugh’s book maintains reader interest while addressing key opportunities for effective management.

In summary, for readers interested in a general introduction to library management, I can recommend The Accidental Library Manager for its scope, content and readability.

James E. Van Loon
Graduate Student
School of Library & Information Science
Wayne State University