Curzon presents an update of the first edition of this title (2014), noting that much has changed in the field of librarianship during the intervening decade—for example, matters related to censorship, social media, and the global pandemic. Like its predecessor, this second edition is intended for practitioners in all fields of librarianship. Curzon draws on her background and experiences, and she notes the importance of understanding “unwritten rules, unwritten strategies, and unwritten wisdom of management” (p. 175). Chapters, which are designed to stand alone, address such issues as dealing with the media, engaging staff, and interacting with boards. A new chapter is directed to those considering serving as a library director. [Curzon] is one of the few to deal with the difficult issues surrounding death in the library, an emotional but worthwhile topic. Curzon's writing style is accessible and conversational, and she includes sidebar quotes from experienced library directors. Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, and professionals.

Choice Reviews

Curzon has decades of experience working in academic and public libraries. In this second edition of her 2014 book, she offers a new chapter discussing assessment, idea flow, and diversity and inclusion.… It addresses many practical day-to-day topics not covered in library-management textbooks, such as what to do when surprised by a reporter in the stacks or how to handle a coworker’s death. Librarians considering moving into a director position will appreciate the last chapter (“Do You Want To Be a Director?”) and the various quotes from successful librarians scattered throughout. Unique supplemental reading for aspiring library directors or those interested in an insider’s view of successful library management.

Library Journal

We always want an inside track on positions, especially those that come with great responsibility and influence over organizational health and political savvy. Dr. Susan Carol Curzon's What Every Library Director Should Know exceeds in that desire, by providing an in depth perspective on topics of humanistic responses to situations, activities and position accountability that comes with a leadership title.

Michael A. Crumpton, professor and dean of the University Libraries, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Susan Curzon has written an eminently accessible and highly practical book on library leadership, based on many years of experience in different types of libraries. Read this book slowly -- and then read it again – because there are lots of nuggets of wisdom here.

Mark Stover, Ph.D., dean, University Library, California State University, Northridge

Sue Curzon's updated and still indispensable guide for library directors successfully brings her sage advice in the first edition into the world of social media and digital resources. In her distinctive conversational style Dr. Curzon leads directors at all career stages and in any library through the thicket of issues we all confront at some point. Anyone leading a library in needs this book close at hand.

Emily Miller Bonney, PhD, Dean Pollak Library, professor of liberal studies, California State University Fullerton

Luckily for us, Susan has taken the unwritten rules, strategies and wisdom managers must know and written them down. The real power of the book as a must-read for the new, newer or more seasoned top level or middle level manager; however, is the way one might use the text as either a narrative checklist to decide if management is for them at all, or as a process to determining what is working and what isn't working about their position. Not to be missed is Chapter 12 "Do you want to be a director?" which I think should be read and integrated into not only ones internal decision making but interviews for any new or "next" management position.

Julie Beth Todaro, PhD, dean of Library Services and 2016–2017 president of the American Library Association