Aligning Library and University Strategic Directions: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study of Academic Library Leadership in Australia and the U.S.A

Abstract

This article presents a substantive grounded theory that shows how senior library leaders can achieve the library’s strategic alignment with the university. The theory suggests that increasing uncertainty causes the library’s leadership to consider how the library’s strategic contributions can support the university’s core priorities while also promoting the library’s value and impact. The library’s senior leaders must be creative thinkers who are also focused upon their stakeholders. Value-adding strategies include refreshing core library functions and supporting university strategies such as engagement, teaching and learning, and research. The library’s strategic planning involves basing the library strategic plan on the university plan, allowing time for it to be implemented, and informing the university of the library’s progress. This research is the first to explore the processes senior library leaders can undertake to strategically align the library with the university, while also demonstrating its value and impact to university executive administrators.

Keywords:

• Academic libraries
• constructivist grounded theory
• library directors
• strategic planning
• vision

Acknowledgments

Ethics clearance was gained from the QUT Ethics Committee for the conduct of this research (QUT Ethics Approval Number 1400000814).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The first author was a recipient of an Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship during this research.