1. The city of Charlotte, North Carolina has long prided itself on its public library system. “The Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library has been renowned for its reinvention and growth. It was named the Library Journal Library of the Year in 1995, and up until two years ago was seeking new ways for the system to expand not only in number of branches but also in its services.

The 2009 long-range plan proposed adding 8 new branches, expanding its programs, and opening a new Job Help Center for job seekers. The recent recession hit Charlotte hard. Tax revenues fell precipitously and Charlotte, like many other cities, was forced to reduce funding to its libraries. Beginning in the spring of 2010, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library lost roughly $12 million in county funding reducing its budget from $41.2 million in early 2008–09 to $25.4 million. The cuts resulted in the closing of four branch libraries, the reduction of hours in the remaining branches, and the layoff of nearly 180 staff members, almost a third of the workforce.”18 Luckily Charlotte has made a good comeback from the effects of recent recession described above, but a severe budget cutback can happen to any organization.

What do you think are the major challenges facing a manager working in a Managing in Today’s Libraries 21 situation such as the one described above? What skills and characteristics would a manager need to be successful in such a position?