Becoming A Powerhouse Librarian (how To Get Things Done Right The First Time)

By (author) Jamie M. Gray; By (author) Gray Jamie M.
Short description/annotation
Becoming a Powerhouse Librarian: How to Get Things Done Right the First Time will help you recognize and implement specific behaviors and actions to successfully drive projects forward, institute new services or revamp old ones, and establish key relationships both inside and outside of the library. It features practical tips for each topic area.
Description
Becoming a Powerhouse Librarian: How to Get Things Done Right the First Time will help you recognize and implement specific behaviors and actions librarians use to successfully drive projects forward, institute new services or revamp old ones, and establish key relationships both inside and outside of the library. Each behavior or trait covered can be either developed or strengthened within an individual or team. The book features practical tips to build skills in each topic area. Examples of topics found in this book include: lifelong learning, risk-taking, creativity, identifying and leveraging stakeholders, creating balance, knowing when to lead and when to follow, handling setbacks and avoiding burnout. Each chapter includes: • A basic description of the behavior and why it is important for success • Overview of core building blocks/elements necessary within each chapter (ex. engaging external stakeholders vs. internal stakeholders) • Examples of actions that readers can take (ex. establishing agreed upon language everyone can understand) • Sidebar of 5 good and bad habits that can impact success • Personal anecdotes from working librarians Whether you''re just beginning your library career or you''re a seasoned professional, Becoming a Powerhouse Librarian is sure to have something for you!
Table of contents
Preface How to Use the Book Chapter 1. Taking the Road Less Traveled: Lifelong Learning and Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone Chapter 2. Taking the Plunge: The Benefits of Taking Risks Chapter 3. Engaging Creativity: Dream, Build, Be Chapter 4. Connecting Your Space or Mine: Growing Your Social Network Chapter 5. Building Your Guest List: Identifying and Leveraging Valuable Stakeholders Chapter 6. Walking the Beam: Creating Balance Chapter 7. Realizing It Takes a Village: Developing a Team Mentality Chapter 8. Being Smart and Flexible: Know When to Lead and When to Follow Chapter 9. Reinventing Ourselves: Focusing on Building Skill Sets Not Job Titles Chapter 10. Cultivating Attitude: Gracefully Handling Setbacks & Sidestepping Burnout About the Author
Review quote
Jamie M. Gray’s Becoming a Powerhouse Librarian: How to Get Things Done Right the First Time is an excellent, well-written, and helpful book. Each chapter is short enough to fit into a lunch break but that does not mean there is a lack of substance. The tone of the book is not academic, yet it is not unprofessional. It almost reads like a talk or presentation at a conference.... Whether you have been in the library game for a long time or are fresh out of library school, this book provides many useful tips for taking risks and improving your library for yourself, your colleagues, and your patrons....This book is recommended for library students, and both new and experienced librarians, who may find value in reassessing their approach to their careers.
Review quote
Becoming a Powerhouse Librarian offers professionals a plan to succeed by identifying recommended (and some required) paths to success, competency sets for the most successful professionals as well as strategies and tools to aid in assessing individual needs and how to "get there." I am especially recommending Gray''s content on the need to understand and manage "change" in and of itself, risk taking - a necessary but often overlooked strength to cultivate, and Chapter 9 for "building skills sets." This publication overall supports the profession''s fo