Leading in Libraries: Perspectives from Lived Experiences

Foreword by Trevor A. Dawes

Showcasing diverse leadership styles and perspectives from across the globe, this collection invites readers to reimagine what effective leadership in libraries looks like, sharing both inspiration and practical guidance for those committed to creating more just and inclusive libraries.

In a world of constant change and evolving societal expectations, libraries stand at a critical crossroads. As institutions traditionally dedicated to knowledge preservation and dissemination, libraries now face unprecedented challenges that demand innovative leadership approaches centered on equity, diversity, and inclusion. This book represents a vital contribution to this conversation—one that amplifies marginalized voices and challenges us to view leadership through a social justice lens. Whether you’re a library administrator, a department head, a front-line library worker, or an LIS student, you will find both challenges to your thinking and concrete strategies for moving forward, including:

• real-world perspectives from Canadian, American, Asian, and Australian contributors with varying identities;
• leadership roles, competencies, and lessons drawn from navigating the complexities of higher education and librarianship;
• guidance on inclusive strategic planning processes, shepherding working groups, effective administrative structures and hiring best practices, scholarly publishing, and other key topics;
• insights on dealing with ongoing momentous upheavals, such as changing political landscapes, pandemic disruptions and tragedies, and racial violence;
• explorations of the ways in which higher education institutions and their libraries are embracing DEI, Indigenization, and decolonization;
• reasons why reflection, intentionality, non-reactivity, and other ways of slowing down are so important for embracing thoughtful planning and implementing sustainable practices and ethical approaches; and
• advice on building meaningful relationships and resisting political, societal, and personal pressures.

Item Number: 979-8-89255-267-7
Author: Maha Kumaran & Beth McNeil
Published: 2025
Publisher: ALA Editions
Pages: 232
Width: 6"
Height: 9"
Format: Softcover