Managing oneself in the face of downsizing: Strategies for empowering academic librarians

Abstract

The academic library landscape has experienced a significant shift in recent years, resulting in many institutions adopting new working methods and operating with reduced staffing levels. According to now-retired ACRL Associate Director Mary Jane Petrowski, total full-time equivalent academic library staffing decreased by nearly 20% from 2012 to 2021. The trend toward managing your workload with smaller teams or as solo librarians in academic departments has emerged and may become commonplace, driven by budget cuts, lower enrollment, technological advancements, staff attrition, and hiring freezes. As a result, it is crucial for library professionals to embrace self-management principles shared by Peter Drucker and leverage technology tools to navigate these challenges effectively and continue providing valuable services to their communities.