A case for succession planning: How academic libraries are responding to the need to prepare future leaders

Quinn Galbraith; Sara D. Smith; Ben Walker

doi:10.1108/01435121211242272

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Library Management

ISSN: 0143-5124
Incorporates: Librarian Career Development

Online from: 1979

Subject Area: Library and Information Studies

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A case for succession planning: How academic libraries are responding to the need to prepare future leaders

Document Information:
Title:	A case for succession planning: How academic libraries are responding to the need to prepare future leaders
Author(s):	Quinn Galbraith, (Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA), Sara D. Smith, (Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA), Ben Walker, (Education Library, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA)
Citation:	Quinn Galbraith, Sara D. Smith, Ben Walker, (2012) "A case for succession planning: How academic libraries are responding to the need to prepare future leaders", Library Management, Vol. 33 Iss: 4/5, pp.221 - 240
Keywords:	Employee development, Human resources, Internal hiring, Leadership, Leadership development, Management, Research, Staff development, Succession planning, Talent-pool development
Article type:	Research paper
DOI:	10.1108/01435121211242272 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Acknowledgements:	The co-authors are listed alphabetically. The authors would like to thank Hilary Watkins of Brigham Young University for her significant contributions to this project.
Abstract:	Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to argue the importance of succession planning within academic libraries backed up by original research documenting current succession planning practices. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was completed by 34 ARL institutions, which included 25 questions regarding the ages of library leaders, hiring practices, and opinions about the importance and practice of specific succession planning principles. These results are compared with an extensive literature review. Findings – The survey results show that there is a gap between the perceived importance of various principles of succession planning and how well the principles are practiced. In addition, the age demographics of library leaders clearly show a need to prepare future leaders. Practical implications – From this research it was found that many libraries are not prepared to fill the vacancies of library leadership positions. Originality/value – This original research provides data that may be lacking within the field in regards to the need for succession planning.