Title

Growing Your Own Leaders: Succession Planning in Libraries

Date of this Version

August 2008

Document Type

Article

Published in:

Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship, Vol. 13(3), 2008

Abstract

Succession planning, a strategy for developing leaders from within the company or organization, is a technique that could be useful to libraries. Libraries will soon be faced with more open positions because of retirements than we can fill. The dilemma is complicated by a shortage of younger, midcareer librarians and a shortage of new recruits into the profession. These openings will be primarily in leadership positions. This problem will affect libraries of all kinds including business libraries. One solution is to “grow your own” leaders by using succession planning techniques to identify staff with the interest and potential for upper-level positions, to determine the gaps in knowledge, and to set up training and mentoring programs so that they are ready to assume leadership positions in the near future.