Summary

Drawing on her expertise as a leading consultant on human resource issues in the library, Paula Singer addresses the often fraught issue of planning for change: not just at the top but at all levels of an organization. With Singer's help, administrators can

Readers will discover techniques for spotting potential leaders and encouraging professional growth of current staff.

Booklist Review

Although books have been written for individuals who plan retirement, few focus on succession planning for the library, for midlevel as well as top personnel. The basic rationale for this guide is that succession planning helps ensure a positive future for the library. Among the topics that are addressed are identifying potential leaders, encouraging professional growth, planning for future vacancies, and evaluating the present administrative structure. Although some transitions can be anticipated, there are unplanned transitions as well, and the book offers ways to make those transitions smooth. Real-life examples from various public libraries are included, as are numerous samples and charts. A helpful guide for libraries and trustees who wish to plan for change and leave the library in good hands.--Hogan, Patricia Copyright 2010 Booklist

Library Journal Review

Singer (president, Singer Group; coauthor, Winning with Library Leadership) and Griffith (former deputy director, Carroll Cty. P.L.) have put together an amalgam of examples of succession-planning stories and tools from public libraries around the country. Loosely arranged following the linear path of the succession-planning process, the book takes us through several approaches to topics such as "identifying key roles" and "building bench strength." By far the strongest chapter comes near the end: "Succession Planning for the Library Director," i.e., planning for an upcoming vacancy in the director's chair, is designed to calm staff and board members while giving them a starting point. It assumes neither an unlimited timetable nor that the outgoing director will necessarily participate in the planning. Other chapters are relatively generic, differing from mainstream publications mostly through the inclusion of LIS vocabulary. Work sheets and examples from numerous public libraries are scattered throughout. Verdict Managers strongly grounded in strategic planning aren't going to find much insight here, but the wealth of examples and sample work sheets makes this a useful resource for first-time planners and library administrators facing a "graying" workforce.-Brian Walton, Tampa-Hillsborough P.L., FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.