Blog
June 16, 2025
In this moment, library leaders can rise.
Research libraries face an unprecedented crisis that strikes the heart of their mission.
Universities are confronting shifting federal funding and enrollment patterns while public trust and faith in knowledge creation are wavering. The convergence of challenges makes it difficult for libraries to serve their essential functions.
Library leaders now face impossible choices that compromise their professional purpose with every decision they make.
- Cut staff or reduce collections?
- Invest in new, efficient technologies or keep library buildings open?
- Support faculty research or help students achieve academic success?
- Should scholarly research be made accessible, or should cultural heritage be preserved?
Each choice means something vital gets left behind. These decisions aren’t just about budgets; they impact our organizations and our communities.
A crisis demands strategic communication approaches to navigate complexity, build trust, and secure the future of research libraries.
Reminders for Leading Through Crisis
Communicate clearly and frequently.
Share what you know, admit what you don’t, and provide regular updates. Transparency builds trust when uncertainty runs high.
Make decisions with incomplete information.
Crisis demands action despite ambiguity. Gather available data quickly, consult key stakeholders, then decide and move forward.
Stay visible and accessible.
Physical and emotional presence matter. Be where your people can see you, make yourself available to answer questions, and offer support.
Focus on what you can control.
Channel energy toward actionable solutions rather than circumstances beyond your influence. This is a model of resilience for your team.
Prioritize ruthlessly.
Crisis amplifies the need for clear priorities. Identify the essential few initiatives that matter most and say no to everything else.
Embrace adaptive thinking.
What worked in the past may not work now. Be willing to abandon old playbooks and experiment with new approaches.
Lead with empathy and authenticity.
Acknowledge the emotional toll of crisis. Show your genuine concern for people’s well-being while maintaining confidence in the path forward.
Collaborate and develop new affinities.
Crisis often reveals the need for collaboration across traditional boundaries. Seek unexpected partnerships and alliances (right now, especially within your funded research communities).
Tell a compelling story about the future.
Help people see beyond the immediate crisis to a vision worth working toward. Hope is a leadership tool. Libraries can meet this inflection point and strengthen our future.
Last but most importantly, take care of yourself.
Leading during a crisis takes a toll. Maintain your health, perspective, and resilience so you can help sustain others.
Universities are at an inflection point, and they depend on robust library systems to sustain research, support student success, and help tackle complex societal challenges. When libraries are unable to operate effectively, the entire academic enterprise suffers.
In this moment, library leaders will show their character. By leading through uncertainty with conviction and clear communication, they will become stronger leaders while strengthening their centrality in our knowledge ecosystem.
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About the Author
Hilary Craiglow is a Senior Manager at Attain Partners, leading our team of library strategists to strengthen library systems. With extensive experience leading academic and research libraries, Hilary has a deep understanding of college and university systems. She is a strategic and visionary administrator, melding rich library traditions with innovative, forward-thinking services. As a data and mission-driven leader, she employs proven evaluation and assessment methods and creates organizational transformation through empathy and partnership. Hilary helps library leaders achieve their mission faster, more efficiently, and with greater impact.
