Leading Libraries ─ How to Create a Service Culture

This guide outlines a model of leadership in libraries that focuses on creating a service culture that involves conscientiousness, rapport building, encouragement and accountability, innovation, and sustainability, which are embedded in policies and processes through strategy and modeling. Along with discussion of leadership theories and service leadership in general, chapters address each of the five elements and include discussion of contemplation and self-reflection, awareness, consideration and inspiration, honesty and integrity, authenticity and trust, values and decision making, ethics, and altruism and service; communicating effectively and building a service leadership organization, including listening, encouraging open conversation and moral dialogue, and communicating concern; and influence, personal accountability, emotional intelligence, empowerment, and social and procedural justice. Subsequent chapters discuss creativity, vision, change management and strategic thinking, and challenging the process and risk taking; strategic planning and crisis management, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and assessing the strategic plan; defining the purpose and vision, advocating service leadership, building an environment of trust, performance, development and mentoring, assessment and feedback, change, building community, and stewardship; how to systematize and model service values, including recruitment and selection, learning and personnel development, performance evaluation, rewards and compensation, accountability and termination, and leadership development and succession planning; and service leadership as an organizational value, with discussion of the employee as a patron, patron perception of the service culture, service quality, and organizational culture. Annotation c2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)