{"id":5391,"date":"2026-03-25T13:45:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T13:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.oclc.org\/next\/?p=5391"},"modified":"2026-03-25T13:45:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T13:45:18","slug":"listening-to-library-leaders-surveys-capture-real-time-perspectives-shaping-decisions-across-the-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.oclc.org\/next\/listening-to-library-leaders-surveys-capture-real-time-perspectives-shaping-decisions-across-the-field\/","title":{"rendered":"Listening to library leaders: Surveys capture real-time perspectives shaping decisions across the field"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Funding and resourcing, technology, staffing, community\u00a0needs\u00a0and expectations\u2014the pace of\u00a0change\u00a0library leaders\u00a0now\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0navigate and lead their organizations through\u00a0is\u00a0nothing short of breathtaking. Trends that took years to evolve now demand responses and strategic planning\u00a0within\u00a0months,\u00a0or even days. Grounding those\u00a0choices in\u00a0rigorous, in-depth research\u00a0remains\u00a0essential.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, library decision-makers\u00a0benefit\u00a0from\u00a0collective\u00a0wisdom and insights\u00a0shared\u00a0among peers. Knowing how others are responding to similar pressures can help leaders calibrate their strategies and avoid reinventing the wheel.\u00a0When\u00a0those insights\u00a0are\u00a0confined to personal or regional networks,\u00a0the limited perspective can restrict leaders\u2019 views\u00a0of how priorities and decisions are shifting.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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OCLC Research leadership insights: Real-time insight\u00a0for\u00a0real-world decisions\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

This tension\u00a0between the need for deeply researched guidance and the demand for\u00a0timely, real-world insight\u00a0creates a gap for the field. Library leaders need to understand not only\u00a0which\u00a0frameworks and models exist for long-term decision-making\u00a0that are supported by our traditional research efforts, but also\u00a0how\u00a0their peers are responding\u00a0to rapidly changing conditions right now.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To help fill\u00a0this\u00a0gap, OCLC Research is\u00a0expanding its approach to\u00a0gathering and sharing knowledge\u00a0with a new series\u00a0of\u00a0pulse surveys\u00a0focused on library leadership priorities.\u00a0These\u00a0quick,\u00a0timely\u00a0surveys aim to gather information\u00a0on\u00a0the decisions library leaders are making on a variety of critical topics\u00a0shaping the future of\u00a0librarianship.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A complementary approach\u00a0to longstanding research\u00a0practices\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

These short\u00a0surveys\u00a0are designed to capture high-level snapshots of the decisions library leaders\u00a0make in the moment on subjects critical to the field, such as community engagement tactics and the use and implementation of\u00a0new technologies,\u00a0including\u00a0AI. They are intentionally brief, both to respect leaders\u2019 time and to\u00a0enable\u00a0us to respond quickly to\u00a0emerging\u00a0issues.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This approach does not replace the in-depth,\u00a0foundational research OCLC Research is known for. Rather, it adds another dimension to it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our long-form research projects will continue to provide thoughtful frameworks, deep analysis, and\u00a0foundational\u00a0guidance for operational decision-making and long-term innovation.\u00a0Leadership insights\u00a0surveys complement that work by:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n