A suitable leadership style for a principal looking to facilitate leadership in the teacher librarian would definitely be transformational leadership. Transformational leaders use trust and communication to encourage participation and goal alignment with individuals within the organisation. In such an environment where staff are empowered to be collaborative and work together, the teacher librarian would have the ability to emerge as an informal leader.

As for leadership styles that the teacher librarian could use in this transformational environment, they could use instructional leadership, as ideally that is where their ‘expertise’ lay: in teaching and learning, specifically as it relates to student engagement and achievement. Using the qualities of an instructional leader, the TL would be well-positioned to provide support to teachers in achieving their, and the school’s goals. It also helps in this case that the library is often the learning ‘hub’ of the school.