The associate university librarian is tasked with running the various services and workflows of academic research libraries, allowing the head university librarian to focus on the acquisition of resources through fundraising and external public relations. Although the positions of assistant or associate university librarians and deans are considered a training ground for upward movement in the profession, there are surprisingly few mentoring experiences available. The Associate University Librarian Handbook: A Resource Guide looks to change that.
Bradford Lee Eden has brought together a variety of helpful topics for university librarians. The first section provides a broad overview of the field and what it means to be an associate librarian. A section on managing change, a topic endemic to the academic library in these times, follows. The next section deals with the question of funding the library enterprise and managing resources, with chapters on how best to handle budget reductions, cultivating donors and donor relations, and managing a research function. The fourth section covers career management, and includes chapters on navigating the transition to university librarian. A concluding section deals with leadership and defining the future. Intended for both those in the position of associate university librarian and for those aspiring to get there, The Associate University Librarian Handbook will be a valuable tool and guide.
