Perceptions and practices of authentic leadership in academic libraries across the island of Ireland

Abstract

Increasing scholarly interest on the topic of Authentic Leadership (AL) in parallel with a growing body of literature on Library and Information Science (LIS) leadership exists. However, AL theory is widely regarded as remaining in an embryonic stage of development due to ongoing conceptual and empirical limitations and evidence of empirical, in-depth research on AL and academic libraries appears unconsidered internationally. This research explores how AL is understood and recognised by library staff in third-level libraries across the island of Ireland. It seeks to investigate the complexity of leadership and the relational and situational context in which this process occurs from both a leader and follower perspective. The influence of life histories and values on leadership development is a dimension that this research also examines.

This exploratory study adopted a mixed-method approach that was primarily qualitative by design. Data collection consisted of two phases: an online questionnaire distributed to university library staff, irrespective of roles or responsibilities; followed by individual interviews with academic library directors. This methodological approach, enabled the development of new conceptual insights, helping refine AL theory in a more context-sensitive and process-oriented way.

This PhD research provides a comprehensive insight into the perceptions and understanding of AL in academic libraries across the island of Ireland and it illuminates the nuances and lived experience of librarians as they consider AL in their workplace. Many of the findings align with existing international research, making theoretical contributions to multiple fields, notably in AL, LIS leadership, and broader leadership in Higher Education (HE). Methodologically, the study presents a significant contribution as it demonstrates the value in incorporating a lifespan and reflexive approach for academic inquiry in leadership research to enrich understanding of the topic. This study presents an emergent conceptual framework that can serve as a practical template for operationalising AL, including and not limited to libraries in other sectors, various HE settings, and organisations where performance-based and values-based objectives co-exist. Whilst this study recognises the need for further research, it bridges AL theory and practice, enhancing both scholarly and practitioner understanding, and highlights the potential for Authentic Leadership Development (ALD) to be incorporated into policy, training and daily workplace activities.

Date of Award	Jun 2026
Original language	English
Sponsors	Munster Technological University (MTU)
Supervisor	Jessica Bates (Supervisor), Claire Woods (Supervisor) & Claire Campbell (Supervisor)