What Challenges Are Library Leaders Facing?
Abstract
In a recent research survey, approximately 250 Norwegian library leaders working at different levels in the libraries were asked about what they perceive as challenges in the new global world and how to collaborate and work in the future. Questions were asked about digitalization, technological changes, open access and social media, and how they rate as challenges. The analysis shows how leaders, both in academic libraries and in public libraries rate these challenges for their libraries, as well as for the library leaders themselves. This research is supplemented by findings from two studies made at Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania, where surveys of academics and their thoughts on open access publishing both before and after the implementation of a Institutional Repository, will serve as examples of a typical situation. This will highlight the contrast between the academics and the academic library leaders' perception of the future challenges. It is evident from this study that there is a difference between what is seen as important from the library leaders' point of view and what the “customers” – in this case academics – see as important challenges for the future. So in addition to facing the challenges of globalization and of global collaboration within the library world, library leaders and staff must handle how the users of the library perceive the same challenges.