Abstract

Title: Competencies required by female leaders in University libraries- The library of the University of Gävle

Level: Second cycle, Final assignment for Master Degree in Business Administration

Author: Yuanyuan Yang and Jun Wang

Supervisor: Maria Fregidou-Malama and Pär Vilhelmson

Date: 2013 - June

Purpose: This study focus on female leadership in University library. We aim to investigate which competencies are required by female leader in Swedish University libraries.

Method: This is a single case study. Data were collected from Gävle University through questionnaire with all the staffs of the library and face-to-face interview with the chief librarian and three librarians. Quantitative data were analyzed with Microsoft Excel.

Result & Conclusion: Male and female should possess the same competencies. There is not any competency required only by female. However, female are considered have advantage in interpersonal effectiveness.

Suggestions for further study: This research was done in a small size library; it could be interesting to investigate in this research in bigger size library. Besides, it could be also interesting to extend this research to other countries which has different culture with Sweden, to investigate how gender issue affects female chief librarian development.

Keyword: gender, leadership, librarian, female, competencies