Movers & Shakers 2014; Library Journal,3/10/14

Library Journal; Movers & Shakers 2014:

"Welcome to the 2014 LJ Movers & Shakers. The 50 individuals recognized here are passionate about what all types of libraries can do to enhance lives—for adults, teens, schoolchildren, infants, and toddlers. If there’s a common theme among their profiles, it’s that as much as the library is a place to go, it is also a place on the go—to wherever patrons or potential patrons are.

The Class of 2014 brings the total number of Movers to over 650. It was difficult to select just 50 people to honor from the more than 225 nominations we received. There’s not one Mover, however, who hasn’t told us that they couldn’t succeed without their colleagues, so, in effect, the Movers & Shakers represent hundreds more who work in and for libraries."

De Blasio Picks More Liberal Activists Than Managers for City Posts; New York Times, 2/28/14

Nikita Stewart, New York Times; De Blasio Picks More Liberal Activists Than Managers for City Posts:

"In any case, Mr. de Blasio’s mayor’s personnel choices are just one means by which he appears to be easing the mayoralty from the practical details of governing into a platform for the kind of social change usually achieved on the streets and in the courts.

It is a far different approach from that of his predecessor, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who favored agency heads and staff members with button-down business backgrounds.

“Old habits die very hard,” said Mark Green, a former public advocate and mayoral candidate, and no slouch himself as a liberal. “Giuliani was a prosecutor, Bloomberg was a C.E.O., and so far, Bill’s a political labor activist...”"

Mr. Green, who was Mr. Bloomberg’s opponent in the 2001 election, warned that New Yorkers needed “more of a leader and manager than activist and advocate.”

“He’s been preparing for years to run for mayor but not to be mayor,” Mr. Green said. “The most-asked question I get from earnest citizens is, ‘Can he manage the city?’"

Looking for and Learning From Leadership Stories | Leading from the Library; Library Journal, 2/26/14

Steven Bell, Library Journal; Looking for and Learning From Leadership Stories | Leading from the Library:

"There are many ways to learn about leadership. One we may overlook is stories of great leaders—and sometimes leaders who faltered. If great leaders are learners, leadership stories have much to offer...

Leadership stories can come from anywhere. What makes Collins’ work, and that of other notable authors who mine this territory, worth reading is the sheer creativity that goes into uncovering and sharing great stories. He then artfully connects them to the research that lends credibility to the findings...

Library leadership stories

Perhaps the best leadership stories are the ones that happen in our own profession. While none of them may find their way into the general leadership literature, we know the good ones when we see them. They feature library leaders who have turned around difficult situations and created library success stories in their communities. It may be the story of a frontline librarian who recognized the need for a valuable service, and combined newfound resources with persistence to make it happen. Perhaps it’s just a story about taking a stand for what’s right. They may lack the glamour of the stories of great leaders past and present, but we take inspiration from them. They encourage us to take risks and perform acts of leadership courage in our own libraries. They give us the strength to persist for a good cause. They drive us to be better for those we lead. Those are the stories that stay with us."