Nelson provides an overview to administering an academic library, for busy leaders who don't have much time to read, think, and talk about their work. Developing judgment, political awareness, and institutional knowledge takes time and appropriate information. This volume is designed to help with that process.

Rationale : mission, goals, and strategic plan -- Perceptions : library components are basic to education -- Political influence : roles of an effective leader -- Organizational chart : the academic side, with dotted lines -- Context : monitoring and interpreting trends -- Academic ceiling : dependencies and levels of quality -- Faculty : gatekeepers of library usage -- Unexpected events : planning for safety and security -- Beginning : starting a new position -- The job : nature of administrative work -- New hires : administrators' roles and accountability -- Priorities : aligning work with library needs -- Professional development : investing in all staff -- Accountability : monitoring and evaluating work -- Decision-making : processes for library governance -- Communication : internal and external messages -- The tone : desirable and productive work place -- How are you? : issues of health and well-being -- Change : recognizing need and leading change -- Errors in judgment : understanding and learning -- Ending : making a transition -- Budget : spending it all -- Librarians who teach : professional identity as educators -- Building : designed for teaching, learning, and technology -- Collections : meeting high expectations for content -- Web site and social media : designed for maximum use -- Technology : as good as anywhere on campus -- Open access to information : evidence of high value -- Intellectual property : define, educate, and model -- Assessment : describe, understand, and use.