Library Land Loves

A Conversation with Larry Alford


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In this episode, Michelle sits down with Larry Alford, Chief Librarian at the University of Toronto Libraries to reflect on leadership, people management, and what it means to guide institutions through decades of change.  

This is a conversation about empathy and the quiet work of building healthy teams and resilient organizations. Larry shares lessons shaped by a lifetime in libraries and reminds us that while technologies, structures, and priorities evolve, strong leadership always comes back to respect, listening and relationships.  

Whether you are a new manager, an experienced leader, or someone thinking about your next step, this episode offers grounded and practical wisdom on how to lead with integrity and humanity in complex times.  

It is a reminder that good leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about creating conditions where people can do their best work. Thanks to Larry Alford for being our guest this week!  

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This podcast is hosted by Michelle Arbuckle and produced by Gina Freitag.  

Editing and additional production support is completed by Helen Chevreau. 

Promotions and communications for this podcast are executed by Laurel McLeod.

For programming inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

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Library Land LovesBy Ontario Library Association

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