[Publib] Where is YOUR administrators' office? --- was Seattle PL

[James Casey]

I agree with Michael.  I don't like being located far away from the
front lines either.  In my prior directorship, I was so close to the
circulation and reference desks that some patrons would automatically
come to me with beefs and reference inquiries.  "For best service --
always go to the top!"  

I liked the variety and activity as well as the proximity to the action.
The days went by fast -- even the 12 hour days when I had to cover
service desks on evening shifts when staff called in sick.  Since I was
the only MLS on staff for much of the 7 years in that job, it made sense
that I had to be a worker as well as a manager of a staff.

In my present job, I have a much larger staff and MLS department heads
who manage most of the key service units.  While I don't like being in a
bunker far removed from the action, it might be better than having the
patrons come to the director to complain or seek information before
working with the unit or department supervisors on duty.
Micromanagement might also become easier for me if I was called upon to
hear complaints about overdues, policy issues, etc. before the regular
chain of command was utilized.  When called upon, I do go upstairs to
deal with issues, but generally only after the proper staff have had the
opportunity to deal with the issues.  

James B. Casey --- My own views
Director of the Oak Lawn Public Library
ALA Council Member (candidate for re-election)








-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Michael Golrick
Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 10:24 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Where is YOUR administrators' office? --- was
Seattle PL

Hi-

In both my current job and in my immediately prior job, the Library
Director (or City Librarian) Office was located far away from the
action. And I don't like it.

While the days of my being able to deal with circ problems on the fly,
or of being able to do reference, what I don't like is the separation
from the customer/patron. I think that it sends an inaccurate message to
the public.

Michael

Michael A. Golrick
Library Director
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
400 Eau Claire Street
Eau Claire WI 54701
voice: 715/839.5001
fax: 715/839.3822
mailto:michaelg at eauclaire.lib.wi.us


>>> "John" <jrichmond at alphapark.org> 2/2/2007 11:49 AM >>>
I thought that in this Brave New World of Management by ... (fill in the
blank yourself, depending on your favorite management self-help book or
book-on-CD/Playaway/E-book of the quickly-passing second) ... we weren't
supposed to even whisper the "H word," i.e., (very softly now)
"hierarchy."  Or any variation thereon.  We are all *collaborators* now.
I mean, isn't that the Gospel?  Isn't that what Mr./Ms.
Generation-Whatchamacalit expects in her/his workplace?  Or maybe I'm
behind the times.

On the other hand, if you're a Jungian, I seem to recall that old Carl
claimed that the human psyche was naturally hierarchical.  I'm not a
true Jungian, but I've often thought about that.  What CGJ said, I mean.

As for me and my office, I am in the southwest corner on the first
floor, with big, tall windows that let in lots of light, which can be
helpful in a dull, gray central Illinois winter, and at other times,
too.  There are deceptively brief or narrow or shallow woods to the
west, out of which emerge deer and, sometimes, a wild (as opposed to
civilized?) turkey.  Beyond the shallowness lies land belonging to the
Peoria Airport Authority, I think.  I'm not sure if I'm king of all I
survey, or not.  I own neither ermine nor crown, though I have a
kingly-looking tea cozy, acquired by my parental units in Europe, which
I sometimes wear on Halloween as if it *were* a crown, when the
pre-school story-timers parade through the library, gathering treats of
library personnel.

TGIF!

("King John was not a good man--he had his little ways...." -- A. A.
Milne)

John D. Richmond, Director
Alpha Park Public Library District
3527 So. Airport Road
Bartonville, IL 61607-1799
Ph: (309) 697-3822, x. 12
Fax: (309) 697-9681
Email: jrichmond at alphapark.org 
______________________________________________________
"Satyrs and Sylvan boys were seen Peeping from forth their alleys
green." -- Quoted in SISTER BERNADETTE'S BARKING DOG: The Quirky History
& Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences, by Kitty Burns Florey



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