Leading in Libraries: Perspectives from Lived Experiences

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.