In April 2025, the inaugural round of LIBER Middle Management Training programme successfully concluded. Launched in January 2025, the LIBER (Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche – Association of European Research Libraries) training was designed to support mid-level managers in research libraries, whether new to leadership or already experienced, in strengthening their management knowledge and leadership skills.
A total of twenty professionals from academic and research libraries across Europe were selected to participate in the first cohort. Among the selected participants was Judit Fejes, a staff member in the Department of Education and Research Support, representing the ELTE University Library and Archives.
Over the course of five thematic modules – Basics of Middle Management, Leading Teams, Communication Skills, Change Management, Conflicts and Resilience, and Reflection – participants developed the core competencies necessary for effective middle management. The training was led by members of the LIBER Leadership Programmes Working Group, with a strong emphasis on group collaboration, active participation, and peer learning.
Each live online session was supported by individual preparation, including reading and writing assignments, which helped lay the groundwork for deeper engagement with the topics discussed.
A strong sense of collaboration emerged among the participants, who came from diverse institutional and national backgrounds. The exchange of experiences proved particularly enriching, offering new perspectives on common leadership challenges. Notably, the content of the final session was shaped based on participant feedback, highlighting the trainers’ responsiveness and commitment to co-creation.
The LIBER Middle Management Training not only empowers individual participants in their leadership journeys, but also contributes to strengthening research libraries as they navigate the evolving demands of the academic environment with prepared, motivated, and reflective leaders.