"The country is full of good coaches. What it takes to win is a bunch of interested players." ~ Don Coryell, ex-San Diego Chargers Coach.
"Inventories can be managed, but people must be led." ~ H. Ross Perot
"There's nothing more demoralizing than a leader who can't clearly articulate why we're doing what we're doing." ~ James Kouzes and Barry Posner
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." ~ John Quincy Adams
"The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority." ~ Kenneth Blanchard
"The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious." ~ John Scully
"I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better." ~ Georg C. Lichtenberg
"Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
"Leaders are people who do the right thing; managers are people who do things right." ~ Warren Bennis
Although not always the case, management typically deals with the status quo, with insuring that "things are done right." A STM library may be well managed while failing to prepare for the future. Leadership focuses on being prepared for the future and changing the way things are done to insure that threats are handled and opportunities are seized. Managers often control based upon enforcement of policies and procedures. Leaders have political skills and are able to change policies and procedures so that the library is flexible with changes in services and collections to match the changing environment. Many STM librarians are or would be effective managers. Fewer are effective leaders.
At present, the rapid growth of content, including high quality content paid for by the information agency available on the user's desktop, available via the web creates a variety of challenges for those responsible for STM information provision. For example,
Should new professionals be prepared to become leaders in the profession? Why?
There are many good books and articles on leadership. Here is a good one to start. Here is a substantial selection of quotes on leadership. Given the trend in information agencies for clerks and paraprofessionals to assume more responsibility and handle tasks formerly assigned to professionals, it is increasingly likely that professional positions in STM libraries will involve leadership and management responsbilities. In fact, it is fairly common for there to be but one information professional in some of these libraries.
| Ability to lead [coach] |
| Vision, sees threats and opportunities, asks why and why not questions |
| Ability to influence and direct performance |
| Ability to motivate and inspire |
| Problem-solver |
| Creates a shared vision [mission] |
| Communicates and creates "buy-in" for vision |
| Influences and encourages relevant behavior |
| Mentors, and guides others to common goals |
| Effective in creating new goals and objectives |
| Ability to transform goals into plans |
| Ability to insure that possibilites become realities |
| Empowers those who are led |
Which of these skills seem most essential? How does one gain these skills?
Does it seem reasonable that the STM professional would have some leadership responsibility?
There are many good books and articles on management. Here is a good one to start. Many people are drawn to LIS professional work because of their interest in information creation, exchange, and preservation as well as it the subject content itself. Relatively few have management experience or much interest in managing an information organization. In older days, LIS professionals were responsibile for much interaction with users and, for many, that is still the most appealing aspect of information work. However, as more users obtain content and help from a distance, clerks and paraprofessionals may handle more of the interaction with users while the LIS professional spends much of her time on management or administrative responsibilities.
| Ability to meet or exceed existing goals and objectives |
| Direct and control others by enforcing policies and procedures |
| Supervise and direct others |
| Guide and control resources to accomplish ends |
| Getting things done with how and when orientation |
| Effective use and coordination of resources |
| Planning, organizing, budgeting, hiring to meet ends |
| Supervising and evaluating others |
| Insuring that policies and procedures are followed |
Which of these skills seem most essential? How does one gain these skills?
Does it seem reasonable that the STM professional would have some management responsibility?
As a case study, consider the following announcement for a STM position in an academic library requiring some experience:
Position: Reference Librarian - Science
Salary: $30,000 to less than $40,000
Institution: Creighton University
Location: Nebraska
Date posted: 4/9/2007
Application deadline: 5/18/2007
Reference Librarian, Sciences
Reinert-Alumni Library
Position Description
The Creighton University Reinert-Alumni Library seeks an energetic, innovative Science Reference Librarian to provide general reference service with a science specialty. Participates in faculty liaison, library instruction, and collection development for atmospheric science, biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, exercise science and athletic training, mathematics, and physics. Maintains the library website with the support and participation of colleagues. Some evening and weekend hours. One of six positions reporting to the Head of Reference in a collaborative work environment.
Requirements
- Master of Library or Information Science degree from an
ALA-accredited program
- Bachelor's degree in a science, preferably biology
- Undergraduate coursework or significant work experience in biology
- Minimum of 2 years' recent reference experience with electronic
resources
- Familiarity with web technologies, standards, scripting, and graphic
design
- Familiarity with FrontPage, Photoshop, CSS, and Javascript preferred
Applicants must also demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills; strong commitment to public service; organizational and analytical skills; collaborative working style; and the ability to adapt to a changing library and campus environment.
To qualify for this position, you should be able to demonstrate [we ignore here experience]:
How might you insure that you possess these skills,
attitudes and values, and knowledge?
How might they relate to leadership?
As a case study, consider the following announcement for a senior STM position in an academic library:
Position: Director of
Science, Engineering, and Education Services
Salary: Unspecified
Institution:University
of Virginia
Location: Virginia
Date posted: 3/27/2007
Director of Science, Engineering, and Education Services
University of Virginia Library
Search Extended
The University of Virginia Library seeks an innovative and energetic leader for the position of Director of Science, Engineering, and Education Services and Head of the Charles L. Brown Science and Engineering Library. The Director has overall administrative and programmatic responsibility for the Charles L. Brown Science and Engineering Library and the Education Library, and direct responsibility for the Charles L. Brown Science and Engineering Library.
The Charles L. Brown Science and Engineering Library is the main source of scientific and technical information for members of the University community and the Central Virginia region. The collections and services are housed in six locations in the University's science and engineering complex, with a main library and five smaller satellite libraries (Astronomy, Biology/Psychology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics) located adjacent to academic departments. The Education Library supports the teaching and research initiatives of the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education.
Responsibilities: Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Public Services and Collections, the Director of Science, Engineering, and Education Services will provide leadership, foster communication, and enable collaboration in raising the profile of library collections and services for science, engineering and education services across the academic community at the University of Virginia. As Head of the Charles L. Brown Science and Engineering Library, the candidate will administer the six science and engineering library locations to provide high quality user oriented service. The Director will participate in Library-wide initiatives, engage with colleagues nationally, and provide vision and direction in the development of innovative services. The full position can be found at: http://www.lib.virginia.edu/HR/faculty.html
Review of applications will begin on April 30, 2007 and will continue until the position is filled. Send in print or electronic format, a letter of application, resume, and the names, addresses (including e-mail), and phone numbers of three references to: Marie Carter (fhc@virginia.edu), Library Human Resources Coordinator, Alderman Library, PO Box 400876, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4876.
The University of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer strongly committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The University actively encourages applications and nominations from members of underrepresented groups.
To qualify for this position, you must be able to demonstrate that you have:
What if you don't wish to be a leader or a manager? Can't you be a journeyman professional with mininal leadership and administrative responsibilities?
