This study was performed to analyze characteristics of a team-based organization introduced lately to many academic libraries in South Korea. The major areas of exploration included the introduction of the team approach, team empowerment, leadership of team leaders, open communication, and the director's commitment. The study used a survey design with a questionnaire delivered to staff who worked at thirty-seven academic libraries in South Korea. The findings indicate that the staff of the academic libraries undertaking a team-based approach had a comparatively negative image of the team-based system, and that these libraries have provided insufficient training and support for their staff in the process of adopting to a team-based system.