The hiring, training, and ongoing support of staff members determines the success of a library and impacts the quality and quantity of services and resources provided to their community. Strong leadership and supervisory skills are particularly valuable for music librarians who oversee collections and services benefiting from a basic musical knowledge but whose staff may lack that knowledge. Music librarians often fill a diversity of roles: collection developer, liaison, library instructor, circulation manager, collections manager, and supervisor. There is a plethora of literature on collection development, collection management, and instruction all accompanied by a wealth of conference sessions and posters. There are very few opportunities, however, to learn about the very critical role of being a supervisor in a music library or music collection setting.

This panel seeks to fill this gap through the observations and experiences of several library or department managers and paraprofessionals. Topics addressed will include making good hiring decisions, developing a positive feedback loop with staff, how to delegate effectively, and how to effectively advocate for your staff to administration who may not be sympathetic to the unique needs of music collections and their core patron group.