Conference on Academic Library Management 2026

Mid-career and middle-management librarians occupy a complex and operationally demanding role in academic libraries. Positioned between senior leadership and frontline staff, they are expected to lead from the middle while developing their own managerial practice and supporting the growth and development of others.

This panel brings together librarians from four different institutions to examine the lived practice of middle management, with a specific focus on developing as a manager and leading others through growth and change. Drawing on perspectives from Critical Management Studies (CMS) and practical managerial experience, panelists from public and private institutions with both faculty and non-faculty status will discuss how organizational hierarchies, institutional rhetoric, and cultural norms shape leadership work, decision-making, and professional development opportunities for both managers and the staff they supervise.

Panelists will explore how middle managers balance immediate operational needs with longer-term responsibilities such as mentorship, succession planning, and staff career development, even when advancement pathways may exist outside of their own institutions. Particular attention will be given to mentorship as a core leadership practice, including how managers support growth, navigate developmental conversations, and prepare staff for opportunities both within and beyond their organizations. This session emphasizes actionable leadership strategies for navigating ambiguity, sustaining team engagement, and fostering meaningful professional development in contexts where authority and accountability are not always aligned. Unlike sessions focused on individual skill-building, this discussion centers on managerial growth and the practical work of leading and mentoring others from the middle.