A new guide from IFLA, building on a research project run by the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information, shares practical steps for setting up a library leadership programme. It is intended as a gateway, helping potential programme organisers identify peers with relevant experience.

Front cover of the guide - so you want to organise a library leadership programmeLibrary associations, as well as institutions and agencies, can make a major contribution to their own sustainability by supporting the development of future leaders. Through this, they can develop a pipeline of promising individuals and teams who can both better design and deliver services today, and take on further responsibilities in the future.

Earlier this week, we were happy to launch a report prepared by the Arab Federation of Libraries and Information (AFLI), drawing on a survey of over 60 programmes from around the world. This highlights the range of initiatives that exist, with diverse goals, content and formats.

Complementing this work, IFLA is now happy to release a practical guide. This draws on the lessons from the AFLI report to define a set of questions that anyone setting up a leadership programe can explore.

Access the Guide

In each case, it draws on the data from the AFLI report to explore the different responses, and to what extent there are connections between different goals, modules and methods.

It also points to the underlying data, available as a GoogleSheet, which allows readers to identify specific programmes which they can use as references.

Webinar recording available

On 11 June, we hosted a webinar to share the key findings, highlights, and lessons learnt from the report and the IFLA companion handbook, plus expert reflections from IFLA’s Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning (CPDWL) and Management & Marketing (M&M) Sections. Access a recording of the webinar below!

 

We welcome library associations, agencies and others to use this guide in their own reflection about leadership programming, and then follow up with the examples shared in order to make sure that your initiatives can draw on international experience and insights.