Relational & Collaborative: Librarian Leadership

This article explores four elements integral to effective leadership in libraries: investing in relationships, communicating effectively, encouraging self-determination, and learning from our collaborators. Based on the author's experience leading in libraries, and integrating scholarship from fields such as organizational studies, the article asserts that librarians in leading positions can positively impact their organizational cultures. By understanding that the construction of social reality is a collaborative process, librarians work to nurture inclusivity and self-determination among colleagues and coworkers. The article posits that relationships are the defining characteristic of our leadership and calls for librarians to develop this aspect of their professional work.