Challenges of preparing LIS professionals for leadership roles in Pakistan: An analysis of the status

Abstract

Library leadership is almost an unexplored area in LIS education and literature in Pakistan. All library education schools in the country offer management courses to impart skills needed for managing libraries but there hardly exists awareness regarding the importance of inducing leadership concept and traits—as distinct to managerial skills—among LIS academia, researchers and practitioners. The paper explores different aspects of the issue with specific reference to Pakistan by using triangular research method. The review of the literature was instrumental in developing data-gathering tools. Data was obtained from professionals through questionnaire, content-analysis, focus group, discussion and personal observation & experience. The paper identified fundamental leadership attributes required for LIS professionals and their status among professionals in Pakistan. General and specific barriers related to the profession were also identified as LIS education, poor working of professional associations, low profile among the public, low status among other colleagues in the same organization, low self-esteem and so forth. Findings suggest that emerging social, professional and technological scenario in the country requires information professionals, with leadership qualities, to foresee and create the future by timely planning and not become the victim of unforeseen changes. The role of the concerned quarters in this regard has also been suggested.