Conference on Academic Library Management 2026

Recognizing that most organizations cannot absorb the cost of externally training a large pool of managers, this presentation explores how to leverage existing internal resources to build a leadership development program for managers of all library staff. In the field of library science, graduate programs provide limited managerial training, yet professionals are regularly promoted into leadership roles, often without access to professional development before assuming them. Program design and goals, time commitments, and collaboration are key components in developing a professional development program internally to your library. This session will explore how to identify resources and establish a process for developing a people leader program tailored to your organization’s needs, strategic goals, and while remaining mindful of budget constraints. The presenter will share observations from building an internal staff development program that supplements existing university resources.