Wayne librarians chosen 'emerging leaders'
By Staff Reports
Published in News on January 9, 2011 1:50 AM
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Brandon Robbins, teen librarian at the Goldsboro branch of the Wayne County Public Library, and Sharon Michie, branch manager of Steele Memorial Library in Mount Olive, are attending the American Library Association's midwinter meeting in San Diego this week.
Both have been selected as "Emerging Leaders" by the American Library Association.
"To have one selected is a great honor," said Library Director Jane Rustin. "To have two chosen is amazing, as there were only 83 selected nationally. This is a great recognition of the talent and wonderful potential of our young staff members."
Robbins is a graduate student at East Carolina University and will have completed coursework for his library of science degree this year. Ms. Michie has just earned her master's degree in library science at North Carolina Central University. Her expenses for participation in the Emerging Leaders programs will be underwritten by the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, of which she is a board member.
The American Library Association Emerging Leaders program, now in its fifth year, kicks off with a day-long session during the 2011 American Library Association 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 work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into American Library Association 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," Bromberg said. "They've shown how valuable the Emerging Leaders program is in creating sustainable leadership for American Library Association's future. In our fifth year we will continue to build on the lessons learned and success achieved by them."
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 American Library Association, division, chapter or round table committee or a task force or work groups upon completion of the program.