I think about the future a lot. The present is a good place to be; some would argue it’s the only place to be. But I also believe in lifelong learning and growing, and I already know that, someday, I want to be a library director. So I spend a goodish chunk of my time thinking about that goal, and how I will get there.
Part of said thinking involves visualizing myself in certain situations. What would I do if X, Y, or Z happened? How will I interact with my board? With my community? With my patrons?
The result of all that thinking is this somewhat idealistic list of things I solemnly swear I will do when I am a library director. Those of you who currently wear that hat may smile or correct me as you please, but these are my thinks based on my perspective in the here-and-now.
- I will know the first and last names of everybody I work with. Yes, even if it’s a big library. Yes, from the person who cleans the toilets to the president of my board. I will take an active, genuine interest in their lives, seeing them not merely as employees, but as people with hopes and dreams who, properly cultivated, can make the organization more excellent via their personal growth and development.
- I will treat everyone on my staff with dignity and respect. If I am wrong, I will apologize. If I have to do something unpopular, I will explain why, and clearly. I will communicate with them clearly and frequently, and I will respect everyone’s inherent worth, regardless of race, religion, gender, class, or favorite sports team.
- I will nurture and encourage innovation and change. I will support my staff when they have wild and crazy ideas, give them the opportunity to test out their theories, even–perhaps especially–the ones of which I’m skeptical. I will trust that they love the library and the community too, and that they have its best interests at heart. I will actively seek out staff and volunteers who can help me create a 21st-century library for 21st-century patron needs, and I will be fearless about trying new things and making mistakes.
- I will pitch in and help with whatever task needs done, no matter how big or small. Something that left a big impression on me as an undergraduate was an event the college president organized every year during homecoming. He called it “Lance Cooks,” and it means exactly what it says: he cooked and served food in the cafeteria line, and made conversation with everybody who passed through. It blew my mind that the college president would do that, and it made me feel good about the future of our campus. It also makes me want to be the director who opens the front doors every morning, a la Will Manley, or who works the circulation desk regularly.
- I will live in the community I serve, and become an active, engaged member of it. No ridiculous commutes for me. I want to be right up close to the action, shopping in the community’s stores, volunteering at its other non-profits, and getting to know its people in all sorts of situations, not just director-patron ones. If my job is to lead a library, then I want to do it in the most accessible fashion possible. The title of “director” should be a bridge, and not a barrier.
- I will dress up like a pirate on Halloween. Okay, to be fair, I’m already planning on doing that anyway–but that’s not the point! Leadership is a very serious business, especially during difficult times. However, I don’t ever, ever, ever want to lose sight of the fact that, despite its difficulties, life has plenty of fun things to offer, and I will bend over backwards to create an atmosphere of fun, trust, and bonhomie in my library.
- I wil bend over backwards to make the arcana of librarianship transparent and comprehensible to my board. Face it: there are going to always be some things that only librarians care about, and that would make the community’s eyes glaze over if we tried to explain, no matter how much we prettified it. That being said, we ARE degree-holding professionals with a particular skill set and particular rationales for why we do things. Sometimes, that will need to be explained to a board, cheerfully, and with patience. This is the area where I have the least expertise, but I’ve served on one strategic planning committee, and got a good introduction there to the scope of the task ahead.
- I will be a loud, aggressive, passionate, fearless advocate for libraries. I will blog. I will write collection development policies that uphold the community’s freedom to read. I will podcast. I will take advantage of every traditional and emerging technology to get the word out about the value of my library. I will cultivate relationships with my local and state senators and representatives. I will work with my Friends Group. I will get more deeply involved at the state and national levels of library advocacy.
- I will embrace transparency whenever possible. I will make it easy for community members to contact me. I will have an open-door policy with the staff. I will hold open houses and community meetings, and I will communicate early and often about any service changes that might come along. I will be candid about library finances. I will ensure, whether or not I’m actually responsible for website maintenance, that my library’s website contains the most up-to-date information about the library, its policies/procedures, and its resources.
- I will stay humble, grounded, and focused. I will constantly question whether or not the actions I take are in the best interests of my staff and the community. I will earn my salary with blood, sweat and tears, down to the last penny. I will surround myself with intelligent people who will gently, but firmly, correct me if I am drifting off course. I will network with other library directors and learn from their expertise, not just when I’m a newbie, but for as long as I have the privilege to lead. I will aggressively pursue continuing education opportunities, and my default setting will be that there is always, always something more to learn. And finally, I will be open to the lesson in all life experiences, including the gut-wrenching, painful ones.
That’s a tall order, I know. Break it to me gently, if you must disabuse me of my idealistic notions. But I would argue, once again, that if we give up our ideals, we are lost. Even if they are impossible, it is in the striving that we will become better library leaders.
Er, right?
But what about the fundraising part, you ask? Ah, fundraising. That’s a whole post in and of itself. Given that I’ve wanted to be a fairy godmother since I was a child, it’s yet another one of those things I muse about all the darned time. If I get a breather, we’ll discuss it.
Jeff Scott said,
October 28, 2009 at 7:13 pm
That’s an awesome list. Make sure you print that out and post it on your door when your directorship comes. That would be awesome to share with your staff as well. Good luck!
Daniel Ransom said,
October 28, 2009 at 7:39 pm
That’s a good list. The one that stands out the most for me is #5. It’s great when librarians (and other service professionals, really) can be a part of the physical community around their institution. That way you can really know your community, its personality, and its needs. People recognize and respect something they find genuine — if they see you in and around the neighborhood, they’ll see you as genuine.
Plus, of course, shorter commutes are better for you and the environment, too.
I think it’s a great point, and one not often made.
Alejandro Garza said,
October 28, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Agree on the awesomeness =)
I can tell you, I have been very lucky–my previous boss (the current library director) did a lot of the things in the list.
Just thought that this sort of thing should be required when applying for some jobs. “Tell us how you would be an excellent _______. What would your first 30 days on the job be like? How about the first year?”
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Michael Golrick said,
October 28, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I agree with, and have done, everything except #6. I just don’t do pirates. I did wear an authentic Scottish kilt (and trappings) to a fund raising event though. when you do what is now my nine-item list, you will be loved by library staff, appreciated by the public and press, and usually respected by the Board.
afewsocks said,
October 29, 2009 at 8:33 am
OK, so now you totally need to be that library director! This county needs more directors like that! And then I can also live vicariously through you since being a director sadly means doing some math and math and me ain’t friends.
Suzanne Hilgert said,
October 29, 2009 at 9:18 am
As part of these great list I would add sharing your vision of our library with your staff. It helps us working in the libraries to understand where you are coming from and support you if need be. Can I work for you when you become a library director?
JenJen said,
October 29, 2009 at 11:41 am
I think it’s great you know where you want to end up. I hope that somewhere further down the list, like #21 or 35 is “I will not think less of librarians who do not pursue management. Just because it was the right path for me doesn’t mean that people on other paths are less committed.” Any colleagues or bosses of mine, don’t read anything into that.
Leigh Anne Vrabel said,
October 29, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Thank you, Jeff! Based on the other comments, I may have to make a longer list…and yeah, the staff definitely needs to be involved. If nobody’s following, you’re not really leading, right?
Leigh Anne Vrabel said,
October 29, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Daniel, thank you! It’s a point that’s very important to me, and, I suspect, to a lot of people. Libraries are a big part of sustainable communities, but they’re not the only part, and supporting all elements is key…thanks for commenting!
Leigh Anne Vrabel said,
October 29, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Alejandro, I’m glad you’ve had a good boss experience! It makes me sad to read that so many library folk have not.
Also, I love the questions you ask, and will add them to my imaginings – thank you!
Don said,
October 29, 2009 at 12:40 pm
So, where do we sign up to get to work for you?
Leigh Anne Vrabel said,
October 29, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Michael, it would be a boring world if we all dressed the same – how did the authentic garb go over?
I’m sure I will make plenty of mistakes along the line, when the time comes – human nature and all. But at least I’ll have some guiding principles to steer me straight.
Leigh Anne Vrabel said,
October 29, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Aw, thanks dear – I’m just calling it all like I see it, as usual. This county DOES have some great directors, some of whom I get to work with on a regular basis, and some of whom I wish I knew better – I need to get over my shyness and go pay some of them a visit!
As for the math: I sincerely wish there were a course called “Math for Librarians.” Librarily Blonde discussed the whole librarian/math issue a while ago, and I may have to write about it. I’m seriously considering taking some community college courses in finance.
Leigh Anne Vrabel said,
October 29, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Suzanne, excellent, excellent, excellent point: I’ll go one step further – staff should be active participants in co-creating the vision. I’m not a big fan of top-down hierarchies, where one person says jump and everybody else says “How high?” Ideally what I’d love to do is take my staff on a one-day or two-day retreat where we get to know each other, and hash all that stuff out. Especially since, as a new director, I’d be walking into a situation where I’m leading people who have TONS of experience with the community, and know things I need to know!!!
I’d be honored to have you come work for me – that’s a serious act of faith to offer to follow somebody you’ve never met, based on a blog post. Shows you have nerve.
Leigh Anne Vrabel said,
October 29, 2009 at 12:48 pm
JenJen, SERIOUSLY excellent point: everybody’s different. Everybody has different skills, abilities, and paths, and it takes all kinds of people to make libraries work. One of the saddest things about realizing that I did want to be a director someday was that, of necessity, I’d have to give up some things I really love, like loads of refdesk time. It’s happening to me right now, in my current position, and it makes me a little sad (although, at smaller libraries, there would be lots of opportunities to wear many hats).
It all gets back to service. We need excellent front-line staff to serve the public, and excellent managers to serve the staff who serve the public, and so on and so on. And I think, in life, in general, we’d all be a heck of a lot better off if NOBODY thought less of ANYBODY based on something like a job title. So, thanks for the reminder.
Leigh Anne Vrabel said,
October 29, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Bless your heart….it would be an honor and a privilege to have you on my staff. Of course, I’d be guilty of nepotism right out of the gate, thus starting my illustrious career under an ethical cloud.
Seriously, thank you. You’re such a big help to me. I hope give back as good as I get.
Beth said,
November 3, 2009 at 2:42 pm
This is a great post. The people who I have worked for or with engender a lot of those qualities (minus the pirate stuff), although I did work with a guy in an ad agency who dressed up as Dolly Parton for Halloween. WHen I think of how I will manage I always remember certain traits or how events were handled. These are the things that stay with me and I want to pay forward.
Leigh Anne Vrabel said,
November 3, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Beth, I’m so glad you’ve had a chance to work with excellent people! I’m sure you would make an amazing director/manager – of course, you’d be excellent at whatever you took on.
John said,
November 4, 2009 at 3:47 pm
There is going to be an opening for the Dean of Libraries at Penn State when Nancy Eaton retires in June 2010.
LAV said,
November 4, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Thanks for the heads-up, John – I’m not sure if I would want to leap from public to academic libraries – but that’s a whole other post for another day…
Karen said,
November 9, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I wish you luck in your journey to the big chair. I think you will find though, as I have in almost 30 years in library administration, that the duties that take you away from the public service desks grow more and more demanding as time goes forward. Sometimes it seems that if I didn’t have to walk past Circ to go to the restroom I’d never see any of the patrons. Still, public library work is the best work there is and I envy you the years you will have to enjoy it.
Leigh Anne Vrabel said,
November 10, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Karen, thank you so much for your comments – sadly, I am already discovering the truth about which you speak – I really miss the refdesk sometimes, and I worry that I will lose touch with the patrons if I don’t figure out a way to keep my hand in – I guess that’s where trusting my staff will come in, though, I suppose…either that, or I’m going to have to set my sights on a small library where I could be jill-of-all-trades / toilet cleaner to boot…THAT should keep me humble/ grounded.