Book Review: The Small Public Library Survival Guide

My hope is that after I complete my Master’s Degree at the University of Arizona, I will be able to secure a position in a rural public library. I have always been drawn to small towns, which is one of the reasons Philip and I live on the west side of the Tucson Mountains, south of Picture Rocks.

I was planning to take IRLS 566 Small & Rural Library Administration and Practice in the fall but it was cancelled due to funding issues. So, in addition to working one day a week at the Geasa Marana Branch Library this summer as part of my internship (located in Old Marana, which is definitely rural), I decided to read the two textbooks that would have been required as part of the class.

One is called Administration of the Small Public Library by Darlene Weingand; the other is The Small Public Library Survival Guide: Surviving on Less by Herbert Landau. I opted to read the survival guide for several reasons: snappy title, nice cover, fewer pages.

So, based on How to Write a Book Review (in 10 easy steps – see my May 27 post), here goes.

According to the author of The Small Public Library Survival Guide: Thriving on Less, 80% of the libraries in the United States are considered small, serving populations of no more than 25,000. Given tight budgets these days, librarians working in these communities will probably not get the opportunity to attend educational workshops or conferences where they can network with other librarians, see vendors and their products, and listen to speakers on a wide variety of topics.

The American Library Association is well aware of this so offers online courses, eforums, webinars, webcasts, and career development resources, including how-to books on a wide variety of subjects. Published in 2008, The Small Public Library Survival Guide certainly falls into that category.

Whoever encouraged the author, Herbert Landau, to take on this project should be congratulated. He has produced a well-written, thorough, easy-to-use guide that is a perfect balance between the practical and inspirational.

Mr. Landau draws upon his own personal experience, not only as Director of the Milanof-Schock Library in Mount Joy, PA, but his years in technical publishing and the computer industry. He begins each chapter with a brief overview, then proceeds to cover the selected topics succinctly. By using headings and formatting effectively, the reader is able to easily go back and review pertinent information, making it a reference that won’t just sit on the shelf. The appendices and selected bibliography is particularly useful for someone who would like to see specific examples and/or more information on a subject.

Given my years in philanthropy and not-for-profit work, I appreciate the fact that Mr. Landau urges the reader several times throughout the book to check with the library’s attorney or accountant, review the library’s by-laws and related documents, or notify the board before embarking on a new initiative. Besides the fact that no one likes surprises, sometimes a fundraising activity, for example, seems like a great idea but may be inappropriate based on library policy or city/county/state statutes. Too often folks with good intentions get into trouble just because they didn’t check first with other people who should be in the loop.

This book should be required reading for every person assigned to a rural public library, particularly if they do not have a lot of work experience to draw on, especially in the areas of governance, marketing and funding. In my case, I found a lot of the information to be more review than new – which isn’t a bad thing. I got a few ideas that I will be passing on to folks at both the Geasa Marana and Wheeler Taft Abbett, Jr. Branch Libraries before my internship is over, and I can definitely see myself using it as a reference in the future.

Now on to Administration of the Small Public Library.