Internal communication in academic libraries: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Internal communication—communication among those working in the library—is vital to the engagement, success, and functioning of library employees and departments. However, it has received far less attention than external communication (e.g., promotional and outreach efforts to the academic community). This exploratory study surveyed academic libraries in the United States to determine common themes and potential ways to improve internal library communication. Recurring themes around challenges and effectiveness of internal communications remained consistent, regardless of library size or librarian role.