7 Ways to Advance Your Career in Academic Librarianship

What does it really take to move forward in academic librarianship? To find out, a recent study of 200 academic library professionals (link) explored the barriers and supports librarians encounter on their career journeys. The findings were clear: many librarians feel stuck. Promotion and tenure criteria are often unclear, tenure itself is out of reach for most, and workplace cultures sometimes undervalue critical contributions like service, mentoring, and DEI work.

But participants didn’t just share frustrations—they also offered advice. Their insights highlight practical strategies librarians can use today, along with changes leaders can make to create fairer, more supportive advancement pathways. Here are seven ways forward, inspired directly by the voices of the study’s participants.

1. Ask for ClarityAdvancement shouldn’t be a guessing game. Participants stressed the importance of requesting written promotion and tenure criteria. Clear guidelines help librarians focus on meaningful work instead of chasing shifting expectations.

2. Highlight All of Your ContributionsInvisible labor counts. Committee work, mentoring, service, and DEI initiatives often shape the library’s success just as much as publications or large projects. Participants advised making these efforts visible and valued.

3. Look for Flexible PathwaysRigid “one size fits all” career structures make advancement harder—especially for caregivers or those unable to relocate. Participants recommended advocating for advancement options that recognize hybrid work, specialized expertise, and leadership roles outside management.

4. Find Mentors—and SponsorsMentorship offers guidance, but sponsorship—having someone advocate for you in decision-making spaces—can be transformative. Participants credited mentors and sponsors with helping them navigate opaque systems and gain recognition.

5. Build Your NetworkParticipants highlighted networking as a major catalyst for opportunity. Professional associations, conference presentations, and even active participation in listservs created access to new roles and collaborations that weren’t always available internally.

6. 6. Use Collective PowerUnionized librarians in the study reported more equitable promotion systems. Even outside of unions, peer groups and affinity networks were seen as vital for pushing collectively on issues like salary equity, workload balance, and fair policies.

7. 7. Prioritize CulturePolicies don’t matter if the environment is toxic. Participants emphasized the need for climate surveys, recognition of invisible labor, and leadership training that builds supportive, inclusive teams. Healthy cultures create space for librarians to thrive.

   
   

The study makes it clear that career advancement in academic libraries isn’t just about working harder—it’s about changing systems that haven’t kept pace with the realities of modern library work.

For individual librarians, the next step is to put these strategies into practice: ask for clarity, document your full contributions, build networks, and seek mentors and sponsors who will champion you. For library leaders, the call is to create advancement systems that are transparent, flexible, and inclusive, and to invest in cultures where all librarians can grow.

When both individuals and institutions take action, advancement in academic librarianship becomes not only possible but sustainable—and that’s good for librarians, libraries, and the communities they serve.