Academic libraries increasingly recognize that cultivating effective senior leaders is essential for the profession and for the stability of our organizations, yet little is known about what motivates, prepares, or discourages librarians from pursuing these roles. At the same time, the profession faces impending retirements and growing uncertainty about whether the existing pipeline can meet future leadership needs. Drawing from a systematic review on career advancement in academic libraries, this presentation will summarize recent research on the experiences, challenges, and turning points that shape librarians’ trajectories toward (or away from) senior leadership roles. The authors will highlight key findings, including the outsized importance of leadership institutes, mentorship, and “stretch” assignments, the paradox that many crucial leadership skills cannot be acquired until one already holds a leadership role, and the continued impact of racism, sexism, and organizational culture on advancement opportunities. The presentation will also consider how unclear advancement pathways, limited mid‑career support, and inequities in access to professional development constrain the leadership pipeline. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of what supports or discourages librarians’ pursuit of senior roles and how institutions can more effectively cultivate a diverse and well‑prepared generation of future library leaders.
