ALA Emerging Leaders News

For Immediate Release
Tue, 10/26/2010 – 16:30

Contact: Beatrice Calvin , HRDR

CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) Emerging Leaders program, now in its fifth year, kicks off with a daylong session during the 2011 ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego. Eighty-three individuals have been selected through a very competitive process for the program this year.The program enables librarians and  library staff from across the country to participate in project planning workgroups; network with peers; gain an inside look into ALA structure; and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity early in their careers.

Participants will receive two days of orientation and education with Maureen Sullivan, an organizational development consultant whose practice focuses on leadership development for the profession, and Peter Bromberg, assistant director, Princeton Public Library in New Jersey.  “It’s wonderful to see so many Emerging Leaders from the previous four years now serving in leadership positions across the association. They’ve shown how valuable the Emerging Leaders program is in creating sustainable leadership for ALA’s future. In our fifth year we will continue to build on the lessons learned and success achieved by them,” Bromberg said.

Following the kickoff session, the program will continue in an online learning and networking environment for six months, culminating with a poster session in which the 2011 Emerging Leaders will showcase the results of their project planning work at the 2011 Annual Conference in New Orleans. Participants commit to taking part in all aspects of the program and may have an opportunity to serve on an ALA, Division, Chapter or Round Table committee or a taskforce or workgroup upon completion of program.

Nearly half of this year’s participants have received sponsorships. The sponsors included ALA divisions, offices, round tables, state chapters, ALA affiliate groups and other organizations. Each sponsor commits to financial support of an Emerging Leader in order to defray costs for attending the ALA Midwinter Meeting and the Annual Conference.

Read the complete list of the selected participants and sponsoring organizations (PDF).

For Immediate Release
Tue, 05/25/2010 – 22:03

Contact: Beatrice Calvin
Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR)

CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) is now accepting applications for the 2011 class of Emerging Leaders.  Applications can be found at http://www.ala.org/cfapps/emergingleaders/index.cfm. The deadline to apply is July 30.

The program is designed to enable a group of library workers to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership.  Participants are given the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, network with peers and get an inside look into the ALA structure and activities.

An ALA division, round table, ethnic affiliate, state chapter or school library media affiliate will sponsor many of the selected applicants.  Each sponsor will contribute $1,000 toward expenses ($500 for each conference).  Sponsorship is not required for participation in the program.

Applicants can indicate on the application which groups they want to consider them for sponsorship.  A list of sponsoring units is included as part of the online application. You can also check with your state association and/or state chapter to find out if they are participating and how to apply for their sponsorship.

Library support staff are encouraged to apply to the program and will have an opportunity to be considered for sponsorship through the ALA Library Support Staff Interests Round Table.

No more than one person from any institution will be selected for participation in the program.  Preference will be given to those who do not have experience working on ALA committees, task forces, etc. and to those who meet the following criteria:

1. Be under 35 years of age or be a library worker of any age with fewer than five years experience working in a library, and
2. Be able to attend both ALA conferences and work virtually in between each,
3. Be prepared to commit to serve on either an ALA, division, chapter or round table committee, taskforce or workgroup, or in your state or local professional library organization upon completion of program and
4. Be an ALA member or join upon selection if not already a member.

For questions or more information regarding the program, contact Beatrice Calvin at bcalvin@ala.org.