Library Management for the Digital Age: A New Paradigm

Citation

Kay Samuels (2015), "Library Management for the Digital Age: A New Paradigm", The Electronic Library, Vol. 33 No. 5, pp. 959-960. https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-03-2015-0040

This is a practical book to support new managers while they are acquiring their skills. It will also introduce new competencies and attitudes to experienced managers. There is a paradigm shift under way in the management of digital resources, and this book assists us in considering new models. Todaro provides a comprehensive and thorough treatment for the staffing, space planning and accountability issues addressed by the library manager. The book tackles the skills, knowledge and behaviors that are impacted with a change to a digital environment.

The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 works through different scenarios that the new manager will encounter. Part 2 includes 16 case studies that supplement the topics covered in the first part, including political, communications, facilities and customer service. The content of the book discusses the theoretical aspects of management, which can then be analyzed with the practical case studies. The scenarios include public, academic and special library examples, giving the book a wide audience base. These case studies are placed at the end of the book, so that when you refer to the theory at a later date, they do not distract from the substance of the text.

The practical case studies offer a comparison of new and classical management skills and methods and discuss the challenges of adapting existing practices into a digital environment. These helpful tips include tried and proven processes as well as new techniques in the administration of both the physical and virtual aspects of library materials. Discussion questions throughout assist the librarian to think of how, and why, to implement new techniques in managing electronic resources. The templates list the facts and the issues and then set out a plan of action including solutions and outcomes. The concepts introduced are practical enough to allow the manager to use these templates in any situation. The chapters on budgeting were applicable to my special library needs, and I was able to implement a few suggestions.

At the end of each chapter, the reader is given discussion points and made to think about how physical resources were managed in the past. Then there are examples of changes required in our perceptions regarding managing digital materials. The book is well-organized, with a clean layout including bullet points and comparison charts pointing out the differences between classical and contemporary expectations. Each chapter also has an excellent list of recommended resources plus there is an annotated list of references at the end of the book.

The content is well-researched and includes tables to support the assessment of what changes are needed for new resources and services. The book could become an important resource in decision-making and problem solving and helps to integrate new techniques into all library operations. There are many examples, tactics and advice that will be relevant for new and experienced managers. The book provides comprehensive coverage on planning, administering and assessing library services when designing a library in the digital age.