Book Review: So You Want to Be an Academic Library Director

Abstract

This volume comprises thirteen reflective essays by library leaders offering perspectives on their personal experiences and lessons learned regarding academic library management. Editor Colleen S. Harris notes in the very brief preface: “To complement the formal research on academic library director characteristics, I have recruited library directors to write essays reflecting on various aspects of their work as library directors.” Although she alludes to research studies regarding the knowledge, skills, and characteristics of successful managers and leaders, none of the chapters cite any such studies, and the book unfortunately lacks a substantive introductory chapter to complement and provide context for the essays by presenting relevant research findings. It almost seems as though the intent was to provide a more thorough introduction to this literature and the studies, but somehow that introductory chapter did not make it into the volume.