This text investigates the core question of how management principles can be systematically applied to the daily operations and long-term administration of public library systems. Joseph L. Wheeler and Herbert Goldhor, both established figures in library science, synthesize decades of professional experience to provide a framework for organizational efficiency. The authors argue that effective library administration requires a balance between technical proficiency in collection management and the strategic application of administrative theory to serve diverse community needs.

Experts in library science recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the traditional administrative structures of public libraries. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a comprehensive manual for historical library management practices.