Title:	Library and Information Center Management
Author:	Barbara B. Moran, Robert D. Stueart and Claudian J. Morner
Publisher:	Libraries Unlimited
Place:	Santa Barbara, California
Year:	2013
Pages:	xvii, 470
Indian Price:	$52.25
ISBN:	978-1-59884-988-2
Reviewed by:	P.M. Naushad Ali, Department of Library and Information Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh Email: naushadali.ls@amu.ac.in

The first edition of the Library and Information Science Text Series ‘Library Management’ was published 36 years ago, discussing the concept of information services. It was considered as a basic text for management courses in library and information science curricula at that time. In the second edition, the scope became much broader serving details about primary source of information and contemplation form middle managers and interested colleagues in information services organisation. Fourth edition has been published under the title ‘Library and Information Center Management’ in 1993 with new concepts, materials, features, examples, etc.

Presently, the eighth edition of the Library and Information Science Text Series ‘Library and Information Center Management’ by Barbara B. Moran, Robert D. Stueart and Claudian J. Morner covers all the important functions of a library and information management from planning to execution. This latest and updated edition begins with introductory chapters that discuss the roles of library managers in the past and in the present, explains why library staff must rethink their purpose and documents the inadequacy of management techniques that once seemed appropriate. In addition to discussing key planning, organising, staffing, leading and controlling strategies, the book also provides chapters on marketing, facilities management and fund raising.

The book is divided into seven sections and sub-divided by different chapters, viz., Introduction, Planning, Organizing, Human Resources, Leading, Coordinating and Managing in the 21^st Century. The first section begins with ‘Introduction and principles of management’. This section provides an overview of what manger do and the skill they might have. The second chapter in this section examines the evolution of management theory over the period. The last chapter of first section focuses on the change management in today's fast moving environment.

The second section deals with ‘Planning’, since planning sustains the viability of information centre. This section provides an elaborative discussion on how to facilitate such a process, including the trends and techniques of strategic planning, facilities planning and marketing of library and information products and services.

The third section of the book ‘Organizing’ discusses the importance of organisation and their cultures, the methods that organisation uses to specialise and coordinate. It also talks about the organisational designs of libraries and how they are redesigning their organisational structure. The fourth section focuses on various theoretical aspects of Human Resource Management (HRM) and its functions. The section of the book proves that HRM task must be priority for managers in order to get the organisation function efficiently and fulfill its mission. The fifth section talks about functions related to Human behavior to the working environment. This section further bothers to examine major aspects of leadership, namely, motivation, leadership, ethics and communications. The leadership is the most interpersonal aspects of management. The section also explains how to motivate, lead and communicate.

The sixth section addresses the most important tool ‘Coordination’ and explains various techniques required for today's information centres for measuring and evaluation. The seventh section elaborates about Modern management and new generation managers. It also provides guidance to individual who wishes to become managers discussing both challenges and rewards associated with the management of library and information centres.

This book focuses upon the complex and interrelated functions common to all organisations and is intended primarily for those managers and future managers and staff. The purpose of separating and individually discussing the functions that make up the management process is to individually examine the various threads in the fabric as a whole. In addition, each chapter contains suggestions of activities relating to the topic of the discussion. In preparing this edition, authors have continued to draw freely from writings and research in associated fields, including business management, public administration and many areas of the social science.

‘Library and Information Center Management: Eighth Edition’ continues to be an essential textbook that provides a complete introduction to library and information management. It supplies a comprehensive, one-volume overview of all the function of management specifically applied to the modern library environment.

Author Profile

Dr. P.M. Naushad Ali is an Associate Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. He obtained his Ph.D. from Lucknow University, Lucknow, and has over 17 years of teaching experience. His areas of interest includes Information Management, Knowledge Management and IT Application in Libraries and Information Centres. He has published over 30 research articles in various International and National journals and conference proceedings. Presently, he is supervising two major projects funded by Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India DST and University Grants Commission (UGC), Govt. of India. Earlier he has successfully completed two UGC research projects and one Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi -funded Project. He has visited Germany and France for various academic assignments. He has been awarded one month visiting fellowship under Indo-France Cultural Exchange Program. The subject Information gateway, which he developed in the field of Information Technology (http://www.itsubjectgateway.info) under DST project, has gained popularity among IT community. Dr. Ali presently working on a UGC-sponsored project to develop an E-learning portal in Library and Information Science (http://www.lislearning.in).

Book Review