To determine how academic library leaders make decisions about their organization's future and how they effect changes, the author interviewed 44 university librarians and deans from institutions belonging to the Association of American Universities (AAU). The author analyzed the interviews using content analysis to identify the most frequent…

This article describes the use of scenarios as a tool to assist a large distance learning library service in its strategic planning. Through a description of the scenario process from beginning to end, the authors detail the steps that the library director and the consultant took initially; their missteps; and the successful conclusion. This study…

This article addresses development for information literacy (IL) practice through building internal library organizational culture. Using an analysis of relevant literature and reflection on lived experience, the authors explore issues and concepts for instruction librarians and leaders to consider as they advance and sustain IL initiatives.…

This paper outlines the emerging trends for leadership in the knowledge era. It discusses these within the context of leading, creating and sustaining the performance development cultures that libraries require. The first step is to recognise that we all need to take leadership personally no matter whether we see ourselves as leaders or followers.…

This article provides a historiographical analysis of major leadership and organizational development theories that have shaped our thinking about how we lead and administrate academic libraries. Drawing from behavioral, cognitive, systems, and complexity theories, this article discusses major theorists and research studies appearing over the past…

Since 2008, Victoria University (VU) Library has employed 20 or more Student Assistants annually who work on a casual basis for up to 12 hours per week during terms/semesters to staff the Library in Study Hall mode (where there is self-service access to PCs and collections and limited staff assistance). This initiative appears to have been highly…

Discusses the public library's movement toward consolidation/cooperation with other libraries and the administrative, fiscal, and service implications of such a system. Incorporation of the public library into the national information network as a multitype or unitype system is examined through a review of multitype systems in New York and…

Explains the theory of learning organizations and offers examples from and implications for library management practice. Parallels are drawn between academic library reorganization and the ideas of learning organizations. (Author/JKP)

Discusses the accelerating pace of change that librarians must cope with and suggests looking to the private sector for strategies to become more comfortable with change. Describes the five disciplines comprising the learning organization culture: systems thinking, personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, and team learning. (LRW)

Considers how libraries can build and manage a work force that is sensitive to and mirrors the increasingly diverse population they serve. Defines diversity; describes the experiences of the city of San Diego (California) in developing its "Diversity Commitment" and the involvement of the public library in the program; and provides…

Discussion of organizational development and change focuses on parallel organization, a theory that combines changes in organizational theory with Quality of Work Life (QWL) theory. Criteria for effective employee participation groups are described, design and implementation of the parallel organization are explained, applications to libraries are…

The performance of 43 library work groups was assessed by means of supervisor's ratings. Characteristics of the groups' tasks, membership, leadership, structure, and process were measured by averaging their members' responses to factor of the Work Group Survey. The implications for both organization theorists and change agents are discussed.…

Urges the design and implementation of strategies in academic libraries for the development of leadership potential. Discusses the components of organizations that lead to organizational maturity, and calls for library leaders with vision, skill, and commitment to nurture an organizational culture that emphasizes leadership development. (20…

Explains how a new systems administrator can make good first impressions, become familiar with the library, and take charge. Describes ways of working effectively with equipment and human resources, and outlines types of library staff personalities the systems librarian may encounter. Discusses organizing the data gathered into action plans. (AEF)

Using the Delphi technique, this paper continues to develop a set of attributes that Association of Research Libraries directors of today and the near future will need to possess. The questions remaining are: How does the list of attributes change in other organizational settings? and Where can each attribute best be acquired? (Author/AEF)