Shaping the Future

This book provides an overview of leadership in library and information science (LIS), examines the findings of doctoral students in the Simmons program in Managerial Leadership in the Information Professions, and advocates research in LIS.

Library and information science researchers can provide valuable insights about leadership and management, thereby adding a significant amount of practical information to the foundation of knowledge for LIS professionals and educators. Accordingly, it behooves both internal and external LIS practitioners to investigate and apply these research findings. Utilizing the available evidence wisely will better connect libraries to an organizational culture of assessment and evaluation, enabling improved service despite reduced funding after the recent economic downturn.



This book conveys the rich study findings about leadership in the profession based on case studies and scenario plans written by doctoral students in the Simmons program in Managerial Leadership in the Information Professions, and takes the lessons from this research to advocate further research in library and information science (LIS). Shaping the Future: Advancing the Understanding of Leadership provides an overview of leadership in LIS, highlighting the research done, the areas for discussion, and the potential for further study. Examples of case studies and scenario planning-applicable to both academic and public libraries-are provided.









Detailed discussions of scenario planning, case studies, and research agendas



Contains contributions from three leading authorities on scenario planning and case studies as well as an important book foreword by Camila Alire



Includes the A.J. Anderson Problem-Solving Model, a framework for writing case studies



Bibliography contains over 25 selections of additional readings on leadership