Discussion Questions for Leadership and Academic Libraries [Z 682.4 .C63L4 1998]

"Library Director as a Campus Leader" by Demus Williams

1. Who should lead in campus information provision? Why?
2. Is it reasonable to argue that the library is the "key to understanding and using information technology on campus? Why?
3. What can the librarian and the library do assume instructional leadership on campus?
4. Some argue that the library is a "bridge to the past." Is it also a "bridge to the future?"
5. Williams endorses the notion that academic library leaders should be more entrepreneural. What does this mean? What would an entrepreneural leader do?
6. What does the leader do to better understand campus "culture," especially its political aspects?
7. What does Williams mean when he says that "librarians do not have to be scholors, but must be scholarly people?"
8. Is it likely that the campus librarian will take calculated risks? Why?

"Visionary Leadership" by Donald Riggs

1. What is the difference between a manager and a leader?
2. How important is vision? Where does it come from? Implementation?
3. How much "dreaming and fantasizing" about the future is needed?
4. What are the distinct values of the academic library? How are then enunciated?
5. What does it mean for the visionary leader to be a social architect?

"Public Services Librarians in the Academic Community: the Imperative for Leadership" by Barbara Dewey

1. Discuss the "clash of cultures" in higher education.
2. What is the culture of the academic library? Its role in the "clash of cultures?"
3. How to leaders insure that the staff has the proper service orientation?

"A Critique of Some Contemporary Conceptions of Reengineering-based Library Leadership" by Brian Champion

1. What should the leader do to insure that equity and fairness are implemented throughout the library? On campus?
2. Champion mentions "official" and "unofficial" leaders. Define and discuss these notions. Can "unofficial" leadership be encouraged and developed?
3. Champion also says that leaders should be sensitive to the "workplace ecology?" What does that mean?

"Leadership: In the Eye of the Beholder" by David Dowell

1. What is the difference between leadership and supervision?
2. How important are contributions to the profession as a measure of leadership?
3. How does one lead the whole person?
4. What is the difference between fromal and informal leadership?
5. How does one become a leader?