University Libraries Leadership Collection

The Leadership Collection at the F.H.G. Library is a curated collection developed by Grace Liu, Associate Professor and Business Librarian. The idea emerged from her research on college student retention and success, which revealed a critical need for leadership development and resource support on campus. Reflecting on the role university libraries can play in student success, she began exploring how libraries can support not only academic achievement but also leadership development and personal growth throughout the campus community.

Her research found that nearly 30 courses at West Chester University already incorporate a leadership component. These range from the undergraduate-level HON 110: Civic Engagement and Theories of Leadership to advanced graduate courses such as EDD 753: Professional and Community Leadership. Departments as diverse as Education, the Honors College, Business, Communication, Nursing, and Military Science all integrate leadership into their curricula. Recognizing this breadth, Grace identified an opportunity: the library could serve as a central hub for leadership learning and collaboration and help cultivate a culture of leadership across campus. It can start with building a strong leadership collection.

Building the Collection

In 2024, as a summer project, Grace started the research and development of the Leadership Collection. Rather than gathering books with "leadership" in the title or subject heading, she adopted a broader, more intentional approach by asking: What skills, competencies, character traits, and qualities are essential for flourishing as a leader?

The result is a more well-rounded collection of more than 120 titles that address leaders’ quality, traits, skills, competencies, and well-being. To ensure the collection reflects the needs of the campus community, Grace sought recommendations from faculty who teach leadership courses. The collection reflected the recommendations from Professor Zachary Wooten, Associate Professor of Leadership Studies in the Honors College, and Professor Kelly Fisher from the Management Department, among others.

Collection Topics

The Leadership Collection is intentionally interdisciplinary, highlighting the many dimensions of effective leadership. Titles span areas such as:

  • General Leadership Foundations – Core leadership principles, practices, and theories
  • Emotional Intelligence and Leading Teams – Building trust, managing conflict, and leading diverse groups
  • Networking and Relationship Building – Expanding influence and cultivating meaningful professional connections
  • Productivity, Time Management, and Habits – Developing practical skills for productivity and building good habits
  • Growth Mindset, Grit, and Resilience – Developing perseverance, adaptability, and navigating uncertainty and change
  • Judgment, Ethics, and Critical Thinking – Leading with integrity, fairness, and sound reasoning
  • Purpose, Meaning, and Values – Connecting leadership to purpose, meaning, and personal values
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing – Managing stress, burnout, and self-care as a leader
  • Self-Awareness and Human Flourishing – Exploring personal growth and building character

Together, these themes reflect a vision of leadership that is holistic, inclusive, and deeply connected to human flourishing.

Collaboration Across the Library

Making the collection available required collaborative effort across the library. Grace partnered with Collection Strategist Librarian Anne Larrivee and Associate Dean Kerry Walton to integrate the new titles into the library's holdings. The Collections Steering Committee approved the project, while the Resource Services Unit managed the acquisition and processing of materials.

The Leadership Collection is now fully integrated into the University Libraries Catalog and featured on the Libraries' Collections page, where students, faculty, and staff can easily discover and engage with the resources.

Why It Matters

The Leadership Collection is more than adding books to the shelves and making the resource available—it represents a commitment to building a diverse, relevant, and future-focused library collection that enables the library to serve as a center of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. By curating resources that address both external leadership skills and internal character development, the collection prepares students not only for academic success but also for personal and professional excellence. These collections are not just for students; faculty, staff, and administrators can all make good use of the collection for their personal and professional development. Hopefully, the collection can help cultivate leadership as both a skill set and a mindset that empowers every member of the campus community.

An Invitation to Engage

The Leadership Collection creates opportunities for programming, partnerships, and engagement. Faculty may incorporate these resources into their leadership courses. Staff may use them to enhance training and professional development initiatives. Student organizations may draw on them for workshop ideas and discussions. Students may enjoy the reading for self-improvement and personal growth.

As the collection grows and adapts to emerging needs, it will continue to inspire learning and connection across the university. Cultivating leadership is central to a flourishing life and a thriving community—when students develop the skills to lead with integrity, resilience, and vision, they not only succeed individually but also strengthen our communities.

With this in mind, the University Libraries invite all students, faculty, and staff to explore the Leadership Collection and enjoy an ongoing journey of reading, learning, and growth.