Who Will Lead the Unsuspecting Lemmings Over the Cliff?

THE STUDY AND REPORT BY THE BENTON FOUNDATION relies heavily on information supplied by the general public, which has already shown in previous contacts its total inability to select among alternatives, to rank order, and to relate desires to funding options. This information is then compared to recommendations made by representatives of organizations identified as library leaders. However, the report confuses leadership with management authority and ignores the fact that managers and leaders have different and frequently contradictory priorities. Finally, this article argues that any meaningful strategy must come directly from the analysis and professional judgment of librarians unfettered by what outsiders might consider desirable or reasonable, and suggests ways in which such a strategy might be developed