Leadership and leadership development in academic libraries: a review
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-09-2016-0075 |
| Date | 14 March 2017 |
| Published date | 14 March 2017 |
| Pages | 153-166 |
| Author | Gabrielle Ka Wai Wong |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,HR in libraries,Library strategy,Library promotion |
Leadership and leadership
development in academic
libraries: a review
Gabrielle Ka Wai Wong
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to highlight academic librarians’understanding of leadership and
leadership development, with the aim to shed light on further research that can inform and improve practices.
Design/methodology/approach –A literature review on academic library leadership was conducted.
Particular attention was placed on the three common leadership modes in academic libraries: emergent
leadership, team leadership and headship. The review covers librarians’conception of leadership, desirable
leadership capabilities and existing leadership development.
Findings –Librarians view leadership as a process of influence, and understand that leadership does not
only come from formal leaders. Lacking is a more structured knowledge of what constitute effect leadership.
In the literature, team and emergent leadership have not been adequately explored; most leadership research
in the field takes on a headship approach.
Research limitations/implications –The publications reviewed were selective; not all papers on the topic
were included.
Practical implications –Featuring the three leadership modes brings librarians’attention to the crucial
differences among them; and hence directs future discussion to a more focused approach that addresses each
leadership mode specifically.
Originality/value –This paper differs from previous literature reviews on library leadership; it is the first
one comparing and contrasting publications using the three leadership modes.
Keywords Academic libraries, Leadership development, Leadership, Team leadership,
Emergent leadership, Headship
Paper type Literature review
Introduction
An awareness and appreciation of leadership concepts in librarianship is not a matter solely
for senior administrators; it is relevant to all library professionals if we aim to build a
meaningful, rewarding career and contribute to our own organizations as well as to the field.
The development of leadership capabilities has drawn attention among librarians for
decades. In 2015, the American Library Association (ALA) adopted leadership development
as one of the three strategic directions (Fiels, 2015). Since 1990s, many leadership
development programs have been designed for librarians at institutional, national
and regional level (Arabella Advisors, 2015; Skinner and Krabbenhoeft, 2014). A lot of
participants in these programs come from academic libraries.
Leadership is a complex process with multiple dimensions. Researchers carrying
different perspectives may conceptualize leadership in a variety of theoretical approaches:
as a focus of group process, as traits of leaders, as behaviors and actions, as power
relationship, as a transformation process and using a skills perspective (Northouse, 2016).
What is leadership in the field of academic librarianship? Are there specific qualities of
effective leaders? What development practices are there in the profession? Are they having
the outcomes and impacts as expected? Librarians and library educators have written
substantially about the topic; but so far the literature does not seem to have come to a
cohesive body or any framework on understanding leadership among academic libraries.
Literature reviews consistently point to the little consensus on what constitute effective
leadership, leaders qualities, and methods to measure training program outcomes. In her
Library Management
Vol. 38 No. 2/3, 2017
pp. 153-166
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/LM-09-2016-0075
Received 21 September 2016
Revised 18 October 2016
Accepted 2 January 2017
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
153
Leadership
and leadership
development
To continue reading
Request your trial