The Corsini Letters

Abstract

professional backgrounds and outlooks. Such insights make this book particularly valuable to anyone contemplating a career in archives or records management as it demonstrates conclusively that there is far more to the work than merely the cataloguing of old documents. Similarly, a senior manager of an archival service seeking to understand what his/her archivist is trying to achieve would get a realistic illustration here. For those wishing to amplify their knowledge, there is also a substantial amount of recommended further reading, both sector-specific and more general. The book has a clear goal – to support archivists and records managers who are leading or will lead services. But it also seeks ultimately to influence the wider sector. Good leadership will result in our professional activity being more pervasive, effective and valued. This reviewer was struck by several contributors referring to their activities as aggressive as in aggressively pursued or cultivated. It is not a word often used by or about archives or archivists. Perhaps it is a useful pointer to a successful way of working. This book needs to be read in its entirety, not dipped into. Some chapters may seem more or less relevant to one’s own professional context but the lessons are cumulative. The two final chapters crystallise the points made by the contributors, give a structure to the book and provide reinforcement of the messages. This is a useful and relevant addition to the study and application of leadership in our professions and a springboard for further topical debate.