Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of academic library leaders of Pakistan about library leadership. Qualitative research design was used with phenomenology approach as the present study aims to investigate what library leaders commonly perceive to be challenges, fundamental difficulties and needed skills to be successful. Data were collected through in-depth interviews from 15 senior academic library leaders. Major challenges found were identity crises followed by communication issues, financial constraints, CPD and administrative issues. The most challenging aspects of being an academic library leader were identified as trying to create awareness, lack of self-development culture and technological issues. The required leadership skills were communication, vision, social interaction, team building, organisational understanding and knowledge sharing. The findings of the study are helpful for current, young and future chief librarians to understand the challenges they may face and to develop the leadership skills needed to cope with these challenges. The study will also be helpful to academic institutions during their recruitment processes; professional associations for training purposes; and library schools for arranging and offering leadership courses.
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© 2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- A Political Theory of Public Library Development
- The Trends of Media Coverage about Libraries in Korea: Using Semantic Network Analysis of Portal News
- Academic Library Leaders’ Challenges, Difficulties and Skills: An Analysis of Common Experiences
- From Divergence to Convergence in Hungarian Librarianship: Towards a Common Digital Platform
- Knowledge and Skills Competencies for Humanities Librarians Supporting Postgraduate Students
- Legal Information and the Social Media: Some Current Issues
- Miscellaneous
- Best Student Research Paper Award 2019
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- A Political Theory of Public Library Development
- The Trends of Media Coverage about Libraries in Korea: Using Semantic Network Analysis of Portal News
- Academic Library Leaders’ Challenges, Difficulties and Skills: An Analysis of Common Experiences
- From Divergence to Convergence in Hungarian Librarianship: Towards a Common Digital Platform
- Knowledge and Skills Competencies for Humanities Librarians Supporting Postgraduate Students
- Legal Information and the Social Media: Some Current Issues
- Miscellaneous
- Best Student Research Paper Award 2019