The Cornered Office: A Qualitative Study of Low-Morale Experiences in Formal Library Leaders

Abstract

Low morale studies verify the low-morale experience as one caused by repeated, long-term exposure to workplace abuse and neglect, and that the experience has negative and long-term mental health and physical health outcomes for impacted individuals. This qualitative study centers the low-morale experiences of leaders working in libraries of all types. Data confirm the development and outcomes of low morale, validate impact factors that perpetuate workplace abuse and neglect, and reveal impact factors that manifest in low-morale experiences faced by library employees with formal (organizationally conferred) administrative, managerial, or supervisory duties.

Keywords:

• Leaders
• leadership
• morale
• low morale
• academic libraries
• organizational culture

Acknowledgments

The author thanks study participants for sharing their experiences for the improvement of the LIS profession. The author also thanks La Loria Konata and Shamella Cromartie for their assistance with improving this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).