Adoption Isn't Easy: Changing leadership in a library department from one generation to the next

Abstract

New department heads are rarely afforded the opportunity to build their team exactly as they might envision. More often than not, the culture, workflows, and employees are adopted from a previous manager, which sometimes brings a generational shift as well. Two librarians, an early-career and mid-career, came into leadership in academic libraries' access services and were faced with distrust, unease, and an unwillingness to change even when change was the proclaimed goal within the department. Progress began by working closely with HR to solidify policies and procedures to create transparency among administration and staff. This was the first step to building trust within the department. The implementation of these policies and other new ideas required continuous conversations between the leaders and their departments. This presentation will outline how leadership styles, staff expectations, and a multi-generational workplace affects rising leaders, and the challenges and opportunities these situations afford.