Introduction

Well done, you made it! That wasn't so bad, was it? Gramsci can be a little difficult at times, but he has brought you to the base camp of Leadership without too many problems. Corrigan's compass and Gilespie's map were also very useful. We can now rest here a while and take in the new environment. So, what has changed? The landscape of ‘doing the thing right’ has given way to a more rugged terrain – ‘doing the thing right’. Once again, we have guides to help us navigate the path ahead. Charles Handy is still with us and has been joined this time by Raymond Williams who will show us how cultural materialism can challenge, but not fundamentally change, the cultural hegemony that underpins the Management library. ‘Oh no’, I hear some of you groan, ‘This sounds like Gramsci all over again, but without the Italian this time.’ Raymond will do his best to explain but, as with many new concepts, it may take some effort on your part to fully grasp what he is saying. And, like Antonio, he wasn't writing specifically about Public Libraries – so you will have to use your imagination a little to make those connections. You might also struggle with the concept of Juche leadership and wonder what the hell it has to do with Public Libraries: the simple answer is ‘a lot’ but this may only become fully apparent when we get to the end of our journey. For now, just relax, rest, breathe deeply, enjoy the fresh air, but beware of the wolves. Have something to eat, get a good night's sleep, and prepare yourselves for whatever comes next.