Leadership in challenging times of academic libraries
| Pages | 135-149 |
| Published date | 30 August 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-03-2019-0038 |
| Date | 30 August 2019 |
| Author | Mohammad Aslam |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information in society,Information literacy,Library & information services |
Leadership in challenging times
of academic libraries
Mohammad Aslam
University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this study is to explore the key challenges of academic libraries in times of
changing nature of higher education system and how library leaders can manage the challenges when
effective leadership is highly required for academic libraries today. As the time is changing, the kinds of
challenges that library leaders face have also changed. Author of this study explores the methods and
approaches,which are more effective ways of managing challenges in the reshaping environmentof academic
libraries. At the sametime, change has become a permanent part of academiclibraries and they need leaders
who are able to lead and manage change efficiently,bring theories into practices, find innovative solutions to
challenges,creative thinkers, effective communicators,collaborative mindset and self-motivators.
Design/methodology/approach –The selective publicationshave been reviewed to find the best ways
to leadingchanges and managing challenges in academiclibraries. The approaches and methods in thisstudy
are based on personal experiencesof author as director of the university libraries and experiences of library
leadershipworldwide are conversed.
Findings –Academic libraries are facing similar challenges around the world. The author found that
academic libraryleadership needs innovative skills and competencies, effectivecommunication abilities and a
new way of thinking to dealwith challenges and create willingness to adapt the changes.Kotter’s leadership
manage changemodel may apply for creating and implementing organizationalchange in academic libraries.
Originality/value –Literature on this topicis comparatively limited. Consequently, thismanuscript adds
value to the publicationsof library and informationsciences and offers the literature in the field of leadership
challenges and manage change in the academic libraries. It also provides guidelines to academic library
leadershipuniversally, and how can leaders work withchange effectively.
Keywords Academic libraries, Change management, Librarianship, Library profession
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
Academic libraries are facing various challenges in today’s environment of higher
education, and these key challenges include an explosion of information resources,
conversion from print into electronic formats, services to diverse patrons and innovative
technology. This article explores more effective ways of leading the challenges and
important leadership skills and competencies toward manage challenges in a fast-shifting
environment of academic libraries. Challenges and changes are results of restructuring
organizations globally that aims to update and advance their organizational structure. In
general, organizations need to manage change and lead challenges, and academic libraries
also require to expand their services, facilities and resources toward success in rapidly
affecting the environment of libraries today. Schulte et al. (2018) stated that challenges in
work environment today and higher education institutions force library leaders to redesign
their responsibilities and roles of leadership, which are not appropriate to satisfy library
patrons within and outside the campus. Hence, academic library leadership is extremely
needed to manage responsibilitiesand duties, and maintain library value and status because
the present situation of academic libraryis a challenge for both leadership and organization
Leadership in
challenging
times
135
Received20 March 2019
Revised2 June 2019
Accepted12 July 2019
GlobalKnowledge, Memory and
Communication
Vol.69 No. 3, 2020
pp. 135-149
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9342
DOI 10.1108/GKMC-03-2019-0038
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