2. Fast Facts
• 16 sponsored applicants from • 5 sponsored applicants from ALA
YALSA, LAMA, RUSA, ALCTS, affiliates including the Black
AASL, PLA, LITA, ACRL, Caucus, Chinese American
ASCLA, ALSC Library Association, REFORMA
• 5 sponsored applicants from • 2 sponsored applicants from Roy
GODORT, EMIERT, IFRT, and Burger
MAGERT
• 1 sponsored applicant from IRRT
• 20 sponsored applicants from
ALA chapters including Colorado, • 292 unsponsored applicants
Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, competing for the remaining 50
Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, spots
Maryland, Michigan, Missouri,
North Carolina, New Jersey, New
• Representation from 41 states, as
York, Ohio, Oklahoma,
well as Canada and Washington
Pennsylvania, Texas
DC
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 2
3. My understanding of how
this program came to be
• Started with the New Jersey Library
Association’s Emerging Leaders Program
– Similar programs at state level across country
• Graying of the profession
• Need for new leadership
• Keeping those new to the profession, in the
profession
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 3
4. Projects
• How they were developed
– Working with ALA Divisions, Chapters, Round
Tables, etc.
– Given a huge list to choose from
• Some more developed than others
• Many topics weren’t chosen
– Examples of projects
http://wikis.ala.org/emergingleaders/index.php/2007_Projects_Page
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 4
5. Teams
• How they were formed
– Rank the projects you are most interested in
– Teams put together based on participant
demographics, type of library, focus of project,
and shared interest in topic
– An ALA contact person and a mentor were
assigned
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 5
6. Roles
ALA Contact Person
• ensure that the project has clear direction and support
• ensure that the project team understands the project requirements
• serve as the primary resource on content questions
• provide resources
Mentor
• be a source of support
• be a resource to the project team
• maintain regular communication with the designated liaison from the team
Project Team
• ensure that the project meets the stated objectives
• ensure that the project is completed on time
Team Member
• make a firm commitment to contribute his or her personal best
• ensure that his or her work satisfies the needs of the project and is completed
on time
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 6
7. The Wiki and Blog
http://wikis.ala.org/emergingleaders/
http://blogs.ala.org/emergingleaders.php
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 7
9. ALA President Leslie Burger (2006-2007) spearheaded the Emerging Leaders
program and spoke to us at both the Midwinter and Annual Conferences. She
spoke on what it means to be an emerging leader in the library world.
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 9
10. Maureen Sullivan donated her time to the Emerging Leaders Program, both at
Midwinter and at Annual.
Maureen is an organization development consultant whose practice focuses on
the delivery of consulting and training services to libraries and other information
organizations. She’s simply amazing to work with!
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 10
11. Connie Paul, Executive Director of the Central Jersey Regional Library
Cooperative, ran the Emerging Leaders Program along side Maureen Sullivan.
She provided a lot of insight on how to get more involved in the state chapters.
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 11
12. Jenny Levine, also known as the Shifted Librarian, is the Internet Development
Specialist and Strategy Guide for ALA. She works half-time in the Information
Technology and Telecommunications Services unit (ITTS) and half-time in the
Publishing unit.
She volunteered her time to set up the wiki for the Emerging Leaders Program and
helped with other technological issues. Jenny’s very cool!
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 12
13. ALA's Executive Director, Keith Fields, spoke quickly (he’s a busy man!) about
the importance of getting involved in ALA, being on committees, and taking
leadership roles.
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 13
14. Jim Rettig, incoming ALA
President (2007-2008),
spoke to us about becoming
leaders in ALA and what it
means to be involved in the
library profession
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 14
15. Others involved
• Pat Tumulty
– Executive Director, New Jersey Library
Association
• Emily Sheketoff
– ALA Washington Office Director
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 15
16. EL @ Midwinter & Annual
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 16
17. The Emerging Leaders Program at
Midwinter was held in the amazing
Seattle Public Library.
At Annual, it was held in the
Convention Center.
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 17
18. What happened at Midwinter?
• Program was ALL day Friday
• Overview and history of program
• Maureen provides consultation on leadership and gives a
long presentation
• Large and small group discussion of leadership and
teamwork
• Explanation of projects, teams, expectations, poster session,
commitment to ALA, etc.
• Teams had several hours to brainstorm and plan how to work
virtually over next 6 months leading up to Annual
• Other speakers talked about how to get more involved in ALA
and at the state and local levels
• Breakfast and lunch were included
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 18
19. What happened at Annual?
• Program was ALL day Friday, with other receptions to follow later that
weekend
• Assembled and set up posters
• Large and small group discussion of leadership and teamwork
• Discussion of what worked and what didn’t work
• Groups had time to talk about the next steps for specific projects
– Some could end there, and others could continue on
– Opportunities for publishing articles, presentations, etc.
• Other speakers talked again about how to get more involved in ALA and
at the state and local levels
• Maureen talked again about leadership and affecting change
• Breakfast and lunch were included
• 2-hour Poster Presentation and reception
• Emerging Leaders Reception with ALA Board Members & Executive
Council @ President’s Suite
• Invited to many other receptions or events
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 19
20. We had large group as
well as small group
discussions.
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 20
22. Expectations of Us
• Communicate virtually over the next 6 months, culminating
with a poster session at Annual
• Prepare a project plan, and define roles of team members
• Use free online, open-source software and Web 2.0 tools to
communicate
– Project Management Software (Basecamp)
– Wikis
– Blogs
– VoIP
• Contribute to the EL Wiki
• Communication!!!
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 22
23. Challenges
• Busy with other things
• Technology problems
• Communicating electronically
• Finding time when all team members were
available to talk
• Different working styles and personalities
• Defining what project is really about
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 23
24. The Poster Sessions
and Reception
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 24
36. My Evaluation of the Program
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 36
37. Why this program was awesome
• Great addition to resume
• Learn new leadership and project management skills
• It was amazing working with like-minded, young librarians
• Become more proficient in working in a virtual team
• Meet new librarians across the country and in different types
of libraries
• Network, network, network
• Gain a better understanding of ALA and its structure
• Unintended recognition
• Opportunity to get involved and give back to the profession
• Get recruited for other jobs
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 37
38. Things that could be improved next time
• Clearer definition of projects and expectations
• Collaboration between team members, mentors, and contact
persons
• Better facilitated discussions
• More group discussions
• Better communication
• Better planning ahead
• More involvement from ALA divisions, chapters, round tables,
etc.
• More discussion on how to effect change from the bottom
• Make projects more meaningful by having solid sponsorship
• Virtual communication or discussions on leadership between
Midwinter and Annual
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 38
39. How can you get involved?
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 39
40. Just do it - Apply
• Deadline for 2008 Program is Aug. 15, 2007
– http://cs.ala.org/hrdr/emergingleaders/
• Get sponsorship if you can
– Each sponsor contributes up to $1000 for
expenses ($500 each conference)
– Selection is made by the sponsoring organization
– Option for sponsorship is on application
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 40
41. Requirements
You must be all of the following:
1. An ALA member
2. Under 35 years old OR a new librarian of any age with
fewer than 5 years post-MLS experience
3. Recent MLS degree from an ALA or NCATE accredited
program or in an MLS program currently
4. Able to attend both ALA conferences and work virtually in
between
5. Ready to commit to serve on an ALA Division, Chapter, or
Round Table committee, taskforce or workgroup upon
completion of program
(and be willing to work hard and have fun!!!)
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 41
42. What’s needed to apply?
• Description of membership in societies and professional
organizations; any awards, scholarships, prizes, honors and
offices held
• Description of leadership, community, civic, and volunteer
experiences
• Essay on the impact the Emerging Leaders program might
have on your educational and professional aspirations
• Personal statement
• A current Resume or CV (2 pages max)
• Names of 2 references who are willing to write a letter or
recommendation
• Certification from employer that you will be able to attend
both Midwinter and Annual
My Experience with the ALA Emerging Leaders Program, 2007 42
