Less is more, so they say. Library directors and administrators will gain insights from this volume containing nine case studies in a variety of settings, from public to academic libraries.
Between them, editors Evangeliste and Furlong have considerable experience working in the library and museum sectors. Evangeliste co-authored Bite-Sized Marketing: Realistic Solutions for the Overworked Librarian and owns the marketing and design company, Fearless Future. Furlong is University Librarian/Director of the Blough-Weis Library at Susquehanna University and has written extensively on library administration, management and instruction.
The editors argue that ‘examining services should be a regular part of organizational assessment and decision making’. They acknowledge that librarians are often more comfortable with adding new programmes than removing them. Endings are difficult and cause stress and anxiety. But, as Donald Gilstrap argues in his article (‘Librarians and the complexity of individual and organizational change: case study findings of an emergent research library’), not adopting planned abandonment can lead to greater stress. Evangeliste and Furlong hope that, by analysing the case studies presented in this volume, librarians can gain insight and inspiration for their decisions about abandoning services.
Some case studies are frankly alarming, whilst also being useful to read. Carolyn Blatchley, Training Services Coordinator for Cumberland County Library System in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, takes us through the difficult decision-making process when faced with budget cuts of 33%. Her ideas challenge us to question such preconceptions as whether good library service means in-person library service.
The case study entitled The Great Good Space – Creating Space for Knowledge Creation explores the experience of librarians at the University of West Florida who were charged with the task of reviewing space and making recommendations for new design.
If you are seeking ideas for innovative practice, this thought-provoking volume might just contain the answers, or at the least remind you to think critically about your practice, as well as thinking about how you think.