Presented at CONUL conference, May 2018, Galway, Ireland

1. Developing leadership skills: the views from
above and beyond
Roisin Gwyer
University Librarian
University of Portsmouth

2. The View from
Above

3. View from Above: the task
To interview a selection of senior people across UK HE
looking at:
• what strategies can library leaders employ to ‘lead in
uncertain times’, i.e. which approaches to leadership are
needed in the context of continuous and rapid
organisational, legislative and technological change?
• what are the views of university senior leaders about
academic library leadership and culture?
• what potential is there for library leaders to rise to senior
executive levels in the institution?

4. “The librarian should be seen as a
driver of understanding and change –
able to provide insights that are
valuable to the team, particularly
about how students study and learn.”

5. “The library is not a priority for my
attention or the attention of the
senior team, but for that reason it
almost seems to beg further
attention … it is well run … there are
many more pressing areas of the
administration that need attention.”

6. “Library leadership has to be about
continuing to make yourself relevant
to the institution and the long-term
strategy; essentially it is about being
completely on top of what the
direction of the institution is and
how best to support that.”

7. “For a new library director to engage
at a strategic level…s/he needs to
have a strong relationship with their
line manager, who will always be at
the top table.”

8. “The most evident focus of the library
at senior level is around students
rather than research issues”

9. The View from
Beyond

10. “The library as place is well done –
especially for students – and will not
go away as an important element of
provision and a key justification for …
continued existence. The next area
where libraries will make their mark
will be in support for research”

11. “The approach in the UK is much
more bureaucratic, with an emphasis
on papers and committees. The
hierarchy of permissions required
before anything could be done…was
something of a culture shock.”

12. “I decided to explore it as an
adventure. It is a chance to move out
of the box and provides a huge
benefit and opportunity to expand
your knowledge and experience”

13. How to get ahead (by an ex-
librarian, now a senior leader)/1
• be on the front foot
• ask a lot of questions – triangulate
• think about how your service can contribute to
other places and suggest that you do
• if there are opportunities to take on things outside
the library take them and don’t wait to be asked
• build on your track record of delivery

14. How to get ahead (by an ex-
librarian, now a senior leader)/2
• don’t be precious about the library
• appear to be enthusiastic about stuff, even if you’re
not
• champion staff, but not in people’s faces
• be authentic
• learn how to challenge effectively
• learn how to receive and respond to challenge on
behalf of your service rather than personally

15. Thank you
roisin.gwyer@port.ac.uk