Modern academic libraries operate in an environment of rapid technological advancement and evolving user expectations, frequently driving leaders to pursue a continuous cycle of innovation. However, chasing every new concept can result in fractured resources, organizational drift, and widespread staff burnout. This presentation addresses a critical yet frequently overlooked leadership capability: strategic abandonment, or the deliberate choice of deciding what not to do.
This presentation outlines a framework designed to help library administrators transition from a culture of reactiveness to one of purposeful, intentional experimentation and execution. The content incorporates evaluative models, such as the Competing Values Framework, to analyze institutional culture and manage organizational change. Ultimately, this work provides library leaders with a range of actionable strategies to establish boundaries, protect capacity, optimize resource allocation, and cultivate a sustainable environment centered on high-impact goals.
This presentation outlines a framework designed to help library administrators transition from a culture of reactiveness to one of purposeful, intentional experimentation and execution. The content incorporates evaluative models, such as the Competing Values Framework, to analyze institutional culture and manage organizational change. Ultimately, this work provides library leaders with a range of actionable strategies to establish boundaries, protect capacity, optimize resource allocation, and cultivate a sustainable environment centered on high-impact goals.