Description:As libraries continue to modernize their services, programs and environments with increased expectation (and enthusiasm!) to do more with less, a question that the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries has poised is how are middle managers managing and what do they need to make a career move? FOPL is conducting research across various levels of libraries (small, medium and large) to assess attitudes, barriers and opportunities for leadership development for the soft middle”. Middle managers are project leads on implementations and will be promoted into Director and CEO positions, often sooner rather than later. What does the middle manager need from an employer, beyond a pay cheque? What competencies have they identified as necessary to transcend to the next level? What do CEOs feel an organization needs in order to retain talented employees? What does an organization need to offer to attract talented employees?