Directive and Connective: Gender-Based Differences in the Management Styles of Academic Library Managers

To explore gender-based differences in management style, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-eight managers in the libraries of thirteen publicly-assisted universities in Michigan. The research design incorporated both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Results revealed statistically significant differences by sex in the scale responses on several management traits, as well as differences in responses to open-ended interview questions. Possible connections between these gender-related differences in management style and the disproportionate representation of women in the highest administrative positions in libraries are discussed.