Description

Leading people and programs can be especially challenging during major shifts in institutional priorities, resources, or external factors that shape our work. Many of us are now dealing with significant change in our libraries and their parent institutions. We would like to use this time to hold space for people to discuss challenges and opportunities for library leaders during times of crisis, pool uncertainty, learn from each other, and provide mutual support. By leveraging the wisdom and trust of this community, we can share strategies and tactics for leadership in uncertain times that prioritize care for ourselves, our staff, and our communities.

Format

The following questions will guide our discussion: 

• What is the most challenging aspect of your work in a leadership role today?
• What’s been your approach to sunsetting or pivoting work on services, projects, or other activities—especially when those decisions are unpopular? Do you have underlying principles that are guiding your decision making? How do you balance short- and long-term priorities?
• How do you effectively and transparently communicate during challenging times? How do you share enough without sharing too much? Do you have tools for supporting staff morale during extended periods of staff uncertainty?
• We all dealt with the major crisis of the pandemic and the uncertainty it brought, some in leadership roles while others have come into leadership since. What have you learned from this or other past crises that you can apply now? What are you learning about leadership from observing senior leadership at your institution? Has anyone done anything that inspires you or lifts your own morale?

Each participant will have 3-4 minutes to address whichever questions resonate most with them or where they feel they have most to offer the group. We want to provide ample time for open discussion and questions for each other at the end, so we will be paying careful attention to enforcing time limits.

RLP leadership roundtable discussions generally follow the Chatham House Rule, to support open, trusted conversations.

Facilitator

• Chela Scott Weber, Senior Program Officer, OCLC Research

Dates and times

Each leadership roundtable will be offered at four separate times to accommodate affiliates across many time zones. We request that participants from each institution select one session to attend as a group.

Registration will be made available to nominated individuals.

Participants choose any one session that works best. 

• Tuesday, 13 May, 10–11:30 am EDT / 3–4:30 pm BST / 7–8:30 am PDT / 12–1:30 am AEST (Wed, 14 May)
• Wednesday, 14 May, 11 am–12:30 pm EDT / 4–5:30 pm BST / 8–9:30 am PDT / 1–2:30 am AEST (Thu, 15 May)
• Wednesday, 14 May, 7–8:30 pm EDT / 12–1:30 am BST (15 May) / 4–5:30 pm PDT / 9–10:30 am AEST (Thu,
  15 May)
• Thursday, 15 May, 12–3:30 pm EDT / 7–8:30 pm BST / 11 am–12:30 pm PDT / 4–5:30 am AEST (Fri, 16 May)

Outputs

A post-event summary will be published on Hanging Together, the OCLC Research blog.