In the 2020-2021 academic year, the University of North Carolina Charlotte's J. Murrey Atkins Library conducted a strategic planning and management process centered on stakeholder inclusivity. The university had completed a 10-year strategic plan, Shaping What's Next (https://strategicplan.charlotte.edu/), and campus leaders were charged to create…

This paper presents the results of thirty-seven interviews, conducted with deans and university librarians at large, research institutions in the US, regarding how they practice inclusive leadership and develop future leaders from diverse backgrounds. A demographic survey shows this cohort has become increasingly representative of the profession…

In an era where information is both abundant and increasingly complex, school library media centers (LMCs) serve as hubs for learning, creativity, and critical thought. Yet, little to no data exist describing the state of school LMCs in Minnesota. During the 2023 Minnesota legislative session, Minnesota's Multicounty Multitype Library Systems…

The time and resources required to prepare archival collections for use by researchers is a source of constant frustration in archives and libraries. Almost always, aspirations and collections exceed limited resources. The last fifteen to twenty years have seen archivists and librarians putting great effort into increasing standardization and…

In the same way that libraries defend the privacy rights of library users so should they respect library workers' privacy of thought. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training, as it has been approached in recent years, impinges on privacy of thought and cognitive liberty. It is possible to see the profession's shift away from a…

This qualitative research study explored current reference models in academic libraries to determine what's working well and what isn't. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 participants overseeing reference services at large, land-grant universities. The findings suggest that there is still perceived value in point-of-need,…

Much of the literature in library leadership and management focuses on strategies and practices based on discrete attributes and sweeping human behaviors intended to improve operational effectiveness. This paper challenges the reader to build a mindset for leadership that reflects the real world, where leaders and managers work within parameters…

The paper presents findings from an empirical research study of facts, opinions, and attitudes toward AI tools in Croatian higher education (HE) libraries, key stakeholders in Croatian HE. The findings indicate that AI has made moderate inroads into these libraries, but there's potential for more extensive use in tasks and specific library…

Much has been written on tenure status among librarians due to the unique work responsibilities they have in comparison to other faculty across campus. This study explores one facet of work often unique to tenure-track librarians--long-term or permanent management responsibilities. In addition to gathering descriptive data about what type of…

A system-wide training program in a large, urban public library system is sought relating to library administration's expectations of branch manager roles in the field while developing library leaders. This study employed a qualitative phenomenological methodology to investigate branch manager perspectives on the needs of front-facing managers and…

To help school librarians develop learners' abilities to contribute to teams that can capitalize on a diversity of thinking and perspective, AASL tasked a 2024 ALA Emerging Leaders team with creating a guide for school librarians based on the Collaborate Shared Foundation in the "National School Library Standards." Working effectively in…

This paper seeks to define the qualities of a good research library leader through a qualitative study using the lens of Aristotelian virtue theory. Narrative evidence was collected from library directors in the UK and North America on their ethical identity, how they develop excellence in their libraries, and how they deal with complex problems.…

The goal of this study was to build knowledge about the perspectives of library leaders who have experience with a responsibility center management (RCM) budget model and how the model guides library allocations and planning. The study also sought to provide advice to other library leaders whose institutions may consider adopting an RCM budget…

It is essential school librarians understand and demonstrate how they impact the school culture, implement school and district goals, and form positive relationships within the school community. However, some school librarians have difficulty understanding the connection between advocacy, leadership, and acting in a leadership role. As a result,…

When she was was first hired as the Scott County High School (KY) librarian, Megan Musick had many lofty goals. However after one week, she was overwhelmed with phone calls, e-mails, and people dropping in. She felt like she was just putting out small fires and never accomplishing anything. Her brain was frazzled because she was going from one…