Academic Libraries and Toxic Leadership

Academic Libraries and Toxic Leadership examines a phenomenon that has yet to be seriously explored. While other so-called feminized professions, such as nursing, have been studied for their tendency to create toxic leadership environments, thus far academic librarianship has not.

This book focuses on how to identify a toxic leader in an academic library setting, how to address toxic leadership, and how to work toward eradicating it from the organization. In addition, it discusses which steps can be used to prevent libraries from hiring toxic leaders.

• Presents original research based on a two-phase study about toxic leadership in academic libraries
• Demonstrates how to identify toxic leadership in libraries
• Shows how toxic leadership can manifest itself, providing the reader with steps to eradicate it

Academic libraries and Library and Information Studies schools/programs

Introduction: Why the Research on Academic Libraries and Toxic Leadership?

Organization of This Book

References

Chapter 1. What Is Leadership? What Is Toxic Leadership?

Abstract

1.1 Defining Leadership

1.2 The Study of Leadership in Library and Information Studies (LIS)

1.3 Leadership in Academic Libraries

1.4 Defining Toxic Leadership

1.5 Identifying Toxic Leadership in the Literature

1.6 Toxic Leadership in Academic Libraries

References

Chapter 2. How to Acknowledge Toxic Leadership’s Presence

Abstract

2.1 The Effects of Toxic Leadership

2.2 Effects on Academic Librarians

2.3 Effects on User Services

2.4 When is it not Toxic Leadership?

References

Chapter 3. What to Do About Toxic Leadership?

Abstract

3.1 What to Do About the Situation at Your Library?

3.2 Documenting Incidents of Toxic Behavior

3.3 Building a Support Network

3.4 Who to Talk to About What Is Happening?

3.5 The Consequences of Inaction

3.6 Why Stay?

3.7 Who Benefits From Inaction?

3.8 Summary

References

Chapter 4. Regaining Control of the Library

Abstract

4.1 The Toxic Leader Has Been Removed, Now What?

4.2 Mechanisms to Counter Toxic Leadership

4.3 The Need for Academic Libraries to Practice Self-Examination

4.4 Professional Library Associations Lack “People Training”

4.5 Maintaining a Nontoxic Leader Library

4.6 The Role Human Resources Should Be Playing

4.7 The Role of the Academic Institution’s Upper Administration

4.8 Summary

References

Chapter 5. Healing for the Organization Free of Toxic Leaders

Abstract

5.1 Healing the Academic Library Free of Toxic Leaders

5.2 Healing for Academic Librarians

5.3 Minimizing Residual Toxicity in