Abstract:

Through examining the relationship between leadership and library service innovation, the research helps library managers to take more effective measures in order to increase the level of library innovation . In the present study, we treated librarian creativity as the driving factor and used goal orientation theory and social exchange theory to test whether and how shared leadership influences librarian creativity. The questionnaire data was collected from 356 librarians in several libraries located in Central China. Using the methods of linear regression and structural equation model, we found that shared leadership leads to high librarian learning goal orientation, leadermember exchange, and creativity. Moreover, learning goal orientation and leadermember exchange partially mediated the relationship between shared leadership and librarian creativity.According to these results, it is suggested that library managers should further enhance their shared leadership to increase librarian creativity and library innovation.

Key words: Shared leadership, Learning goal orientation, Leader-member exchange, Library service innovation, Goal orientation theory, Social exchange theory