The successful academic librarian : winning strategies from library leaders

The Successful Academic Librarian is touted as a candid resource for the entry level academic librarian as it aims to inform and prepare them for the things that weren’t covered in graduate school. It is a collaborative work of eighteen authors all of whom offer advice and insights from their numerous years of experience working as academic librarians in various capacities and institutions. It is edited by Gwen Gregory who is also a contributor. The book is written in an informal manner with several authors using detailed stories from their past to illustrate certain points. This aspect of the book makes it an enjoyable and easy book to read, but also allows it to go on several tangents. The book is divided into three sections: The basics-getting off to a good start; Things to think about-getting and keeping a great job; and Tales from the trenches-academic librarians share their stories. The first part offers advice on how to get along with co workers and bosses by understanding personality characteristics and understanding ones role in the work place. The second part contains the bulk of the book and covers such topics as interviewing, creating a great vita, planning a course of continued education, and obtaining an effective mentorship. The third part of the book contains personal stories from librarians that reiterate points from the first two sections. In addition, there is much discussion on the pros and cons of unions, faculty status and the tenure process in the university environment. The two biggest flaws in this book are embedded within its title. There really isn’t any sort of objective strategy for becoming a successful academic librarian, nor is there a definition as to what is a successful academic librarian. The book offers advice and insights as to what worked for other librarians as they have developed their careers, but stresses the point that each individual has to decide for themselves the skills and positions they want to develop and obtain in the many possibilities that exist in the field of academic librarianship. Wendy Baia does make an attempt to define what a successful librarian is, but ultimately states subjective criteria as that of being content in your environment and accomplishments. It is difficult to compare this book to similar books in the field, because of its informal approach and subjective criteria for obtaining success. It is not a typical “how to book” in terms of developing specific skills to achieving success nor is it laced in theoretical approaches towards librarianship as in a book like; Beyond Survival: Managing Academic Libraries in Transition. Nor is there detailed information on the actual processes of evaluating a career as in the Association of College and Research Libraries publication; Criteria for Promotion and Tenure for Academic Librarians. Despite its shortcomings, The Successful Academic Librarian is a book highly recommended for anyone entering the career or even working as an academic librarian. This is especially true for an individual who hasn’t had a previous professional career and had to deal with the intricacies of office politics. It offers a plethora of advice derived from years of experience and is infused with anecdotal wisdom. The book is enjoyable to read and has an optimistic flavor even when it pokes fun of its subject matter. This is evidenced by Anna Golds use of Henry Kissinger’s quote, “University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.” BibliographyGregory, G. M. (2005). The successful Academic Librarian: Winning Strategies from Library Leaders. Medford, N.J.: Information Today, Inc.Vesper, V., & Kelley, G. (1997). Criteria for Promotion and Tenure forAcademic Librarians. Chicago: College Library Information Packet Committee, College Librarian Section, Association of College and Research Libraries.Wood, E. J., Miller, R., & Knapp, A. (2007). Beyond survival: Managing Academic Libraries in Transition. Westport, Conn: Libraries Unlimited.