Career advancement in academic libraries: A systematic review

Abstract

While an abundance of library science research has investigated the challenges librarians in senior leadership positions face and the skills they require to be successful in these positions, less attention has focused on what experiences or forms of support drive librarians to pursue and attain these roles. In this article, we report on the results of a systematic review of library literature focused specifically on the development of library leaders with a particular emphasis on what professional development experiences are most effective in encouraging librarians to pursue senior leadership positions and in advancing these librarians to such positions. This systematic review aims to expand the literature on academic library leadership by answering the following three questions: What professional development experiences encourage librarians to consider pursuing senior leadership positions? What professional development experiences have the most success in helping librarians to obtain these senior leadership positions? Are there any current gaps expressed by mid-career librarians regarding professional development, recruitment processes or senior leadership position openings? We also discuss the surprising lack of research into what motivates librarians to pursue senior leadership positions and the possibility that certain traditional professional development activities may in fact act as demotivating factors; the uncomfortable reality that librarians still report racial, gender and dominant culture bias as a barrier to career advancement; common gaps in mid-career support; and the possibility that there may be skills librarians do not, and potentially cannot, learn before actually occupying a senior leadership role.