"Leading from the Middle," and Other Contrarian Essays on Library Leadership

Reviews / Votes

A good addition to the management shelf, along with standard texts. * American Libraries * Great reading and will be both enjoyable and instructive for anyone trying to provide top-notch library services. * Booklist Online * This refreshing, thought-provoking collection is highly recommended for library staff at all levels, as well as library school students. * Library Journal * This collection of essays written by a library administrator could be useful for any librarian. . . . This is a very thought provoking title and worth reading and discussing. Recommended. * Library Media Connection * This is not a traditional management text; however, the author's emphasis on the responsibilities of both managers and workers in an organization encourages self-reflective thinking and inspires transformation. * VOYA * Leading from the Middle is a well-written, readable tome that offers food for thought and conversation that will be helpful to any leader who seeks to understand what it is they do and assess how what they do works. I strongly recommend it. * The Journal of Academic Librarianship * It is both readable and 'thumb-able,' meaning you can just open it up, start reading, and become absorbed into the narrative. There may not be a better recommendation than that for professional reading. * College & Research Libraries News * [Lubans] brings these narratives to life in a witty, self-effacing way. [He] has crafted an excellent primer on embracing organizational change in libraries. Librarians of all stripes are encouraged to read these essays. * Project MUSE * Lubans' writings, in addition to being engaging and entertaining, communicate the key theme of empowerment of self and others. . . . A key takeaway is that organizations, regardless of industry, need to become more self-managed and proactive to be competitive, take advantage of opportunities, and meet customer demands. Coaching and collaboration can bring organizations closer to those goals. * Library Leadership & Management Journal *