What are Core Competencies for Library Leaders in the Digital Age?

1. What are Core Competencies for Library Leaders in the Digital Age? Libraries in the Digital Age Dubrovnik, Croatia May 26, 2004

2. Core Competencies • Wanda V. Dole, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, USA • Jitka M. Hurych, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA • Anne Liebst, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, USA

3. Outline • What are core competencies? • Core competencies for librarians? • Core competencies for library leaders? • Assessment is a core competency for leaders in ARL libraries (Beck, 2003) • Is Assessment a core competency for leaders in other libraries?

4. Core Competencies • Definition: Specific range of skills, abilities or knowledge that enable or qualify someone to perform a particular function or carry out selected responsibilities. (Fisher, 2001; Webber, 1999)

5. Core Competencies • Prahalad and Hamel: successful organizations understand and exploit their core competencies (1990, 1993) • Prahalad and Hamel: a core competency: • Provides a long-term strategic advantage • Contributes to perceived customer benefits • Is difficult for competitors to imitate

6. Core Competencies of Librarians • Rich literature (1990 ---) • Some authors mix “core competencies” (skills and knowledge) and behavioral or personality traits • Overview of literature (Giesecke and McNeil, 1999, 2001

7. Core Competencies of Librarians • Academic librarians (Grealy, 1998) • Public librarians (Naylor, 2000) • Special librarians (Ojala, 1995; Jones • Reference librarians (Bell, 2003) • Acquisitions librarians (Fisher, 2001) • Information professionals (Webber, 1999) • Law librarians (Jones, 1998; AALL, 2001) • Medical librarians (Moore, 2000) • Music librarians (Hunter, 2000)

8. Core Competencies of Library Leaders • Directors (Soete, 1998; Auret, 1996) • Assistant directors (Giesecke, Michalak, & Franklin, 1997) • Top management teams (Mahmoodi & King, 1991-92) • “Next generation of library leaders” (Hernon, Young & Powell, 2001, 2002, 2003)

9. Hernon, Young & Powell • Identified attributes (knowledge, skills & critical competencies) for library leaders in • ARL libraries • Large public libraries • ACRL libraries • Found similarities in preferred attributes

10. Is Assessment a core competency for library leaders? • Beck (2003) studied administrators in 9 ARL libraries that participated in LibQUAL+ ™ project • Interviewed deans and top administrators, April & June 2002 • Administered two survey instruments • Do You Have a Culture of Assessment • Factors in Decision Making

11. Beck’s Findings • Library administrators did use data for planning, budgeting & setting priorities • The extent of use depends on administrator’s : • Philosophy of leadership • Need for information • Personal interest in assessment • Local organizational culture

12. Our Study Asks • Can Beck’s method & instruments be used in other (non ARL) libraries? • Would Beck’s conclusions about the role of assessment be true in other libraries? • Should our study be expanded to more libraries?

13. Our Study • Reviewed the literature • Consulted with Beck • Obtained permission to use her surveys • Pretested surveys • Revised surveys • Visited 3 Carnegie MA I libraries

14. Our Study: Method • Studied administrators at 3 Carnegie MA I universities in March 2004 • Replicated Beck’s method • Interviews • Administered Beck’s survey instruments

15. Preliminary Results • Beck’s method transferred easily to our sample of Carnegie MA I libraries • Overall responses similar to those reported by Beck • Some differences between responses of deans and upper administrators to Factors in Decision Making survey

16. Conclusions • Assessment is as important in Carnegie MA I libraries • Further study is needed • Mine the data • Expand to more Carnegie MA I libraries • Expand to Carnegie MA I libraries that participated in LibQUAL+™ • Expand to staff librarians

17. Thank you! • Questions? Suggestions? • Contact us • wanda.dole@washburn.edu • anne.liebst@washburn.edu • jitka@niu.edu