Leadership Experiences of Directors of Academic Health Sciences Libraries During COVID-19: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study

Document Type

Dissertation

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Author

Publication Date

2024

Publication Title

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the essence of how academic health sciences libraries deans and directors reported their lived experience of their leadership effectiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The problem this study addressed is the lack of in-depth knowledge related to how leaders reported their leadership abilities during a time of uncertainty and rapid change. A qualitative phenomenological research methodology was used to explore the lived experiences of academic health sciences libraries deans and directors during the COVID-19 pandemic, their perception of their effectiveness as leaders during this crisis, and the strategic leadership practices they perceived as integral to sustaining an academic health sciences library during the COVID-19 pandemic. The population of interest was deans and directors of academic health sciences libraries in the United States with a physical facility and a virtual presence. Purposive sampling was used with the sample size restricted to ten participants. Semi-structured interview questions were used for data collection. Transcripts were hand-coded for thematic data analysis and qualitative data analysis software was used to track the themes and patterns identified in the data. Seven overarching themes emerged from the data: (a) effective communication, (b) deciding and prioritizing objectives, (c) continually reevaluating strategies, (d) build a team, (e) prepare relentlessly, (f) awareness of the environment, and (g) creating a roadmap. The findings from this study revealed that library leaders exhibited managerial wisdom and an ability to learn and adapt to change but needed to be better prepared for a crisis. The findings can inform practice by recommending that library leaders prepare emergency, contingency, and disaster management plans to be ready for any type of future crisis.

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