Abstract

The objectives of this research were: (1) to explore the existing situation, desirable situation, and the needs to develop servant leadership of university library department heads in Nanning; (2) to develop a program to strengthen servant leadership of university library department heads in Nanning. The study employed a mixed-methods research design consisting of two phases. Phase 1 explored existing situations, desirable situations, and the needs to develop servant leadership. The sample consisted of 202 library leaders, department heads, frontline librarians from five universities in Nanning. The research instrument was a 5-rating scales questionnaire. Phase 2 developed a program to strengthen servant leadership of university library department heads. Five experts in servant leadership were interviewed, and seven experts evaluated the program. Statistics used to analyze data were mean, standard deviation, and modified priority needs index.

The research found that: (1) The elements of servant leadership of university library department heads comprised four components: altruism, vision, empowerment, and influence, all of which were evaluated at a very high level of appropriateness. (2) The existing situation in all and each individual component was at a moderate level. The desirable situation in all and each individual component was at a very high level. The priority needs were ranked from highest to lowest as follows: Influence, Empowerment, Altruism, and Vision. (3) The program consisted of five major components: Rationale, Objectives, Content, Development Methods and Activities, and Measurement and Evaluation. The overall evaluations of the program’s appropriateness, feasibility, and utility were at a very high level.

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