Using Stories to Manage Libraries: Adapting the Springboard Story from the Private Sector for Managing Library Services

摘要

Storytelling has been recognized as powerful for the classroom and for library programs promoting reading, but in recent years, advocates promoting storytelling for the management of organizations have also become active, especially in the private sector. Librarians can benefit from the use of storytelling in managing organizations. This article promotes the adaptation and use of stories for managing libraries and examines the primary literature from the private sector and from professional library journals that promotes storytelling for management. Because stories for management use real-life examples to address a specific purpose for management, the article discusses and describes the use of the springboard story, the primary form of storytelling in managing organizations, and also explains the qualities needed for this type of story. The article also includes a story that models these qualities.