2002 Leadership Institute Report

North Carolina Library Association

The Leadership Institute attracted nineteen talented members of the library profession.  They included library directors, department heads, new librarians, and paraprofessionals.  The Institute taught them about the differences between management and leadership, about goal setting, vision and strategic planning, negotiations and conflict resolution, change management, coaching, diversity, team building, and more.

Instructors

Dr. Barbara Moran from the School of Information and Library Science (SILS) at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill coordinated the curriculum of the Leadership Institute held at The Summit, in Brown Summit, North Carolina, October 14-19, 2002.  Other speakers included SILS faculty, Dr. Evelyn Daniel, Dr. Claudia Gollop, Dr. Joanne Marshall (SILS Dean), and Dr. Paul Solomon,  and Dr. Glen Martin from the UNC Chapel Hill Counseling and Psychological Service and Rebecca B. Vargha, SILS librarian.

Graduation

The committee is pleased to announce the graduates of the 2002 North Carolina Library Association Leadership Institute:

Nora Armstrong
Information and Referral Manager
Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center

Susan Benning
Branch Manger
Reidsville Public Library

Rob Boltz
Library Teacher
Creedmoor Elementary School Library

Michael Cartwright
County Librarian
Jackson County Public Library

Linda Clarke
Director of Library Services
Chatham County Public Libraries

Harweda Coe
Library Computer Technician
Forsyth County Public Library

Jonathan Farlow
Reference Librarian
Randolph County Public Library

Chih-Tzu Gleen
Electronic Resources Librarian
East Regional Library , Wake County Public Libraries

Deana Guido
Youth Services/Reference Librarian
Edgecombe County Memorial Library

Brandy Hamilton
Adult Services Librarian
Southeast Regional Library , Wake County Public Libraries

Alyce Kidd
Library Technician III
Franklin County Library

Linda Lamp
Library Supervisor/Children’s Coordinator
Montgomery County Library

Irene Laube
Director of Library Services
Durham Technical Community College Library

Rodney Lippard
Head of Collection Development
Corriher-Linn-Black Library, Catawba College

Susan Mayes
Cataloger/Systems Administrator
Belmont Abby College Library

Irish McNair
Information Service Manager/AssistantBranch Manager
Beatties Ford Library, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County

Vivian Melvin
Library Supervisor
Forsyth County Public Library

Janice Woodward
Acquisitions Library Technician
Marine Corps Community Service Base Library, Camp Lejune

Scholarships

The Leadership Institute Committee obtained financial donations for scholarships from NCLA sections and round tables, and library vendors.  Scholarships were awarded by the committee based on applicant requests for assistance and criteria established by the funding agency.  Contributions will be listed on the Leadership Institute web site to honor the recipients and donors.   

Susan Benning received a $100 scholarship from LexisNexis.
Robin Boltz was awarded a $600 scholarship from the North Carolina Association of School Librarians. 
Michael Cartwright and Linda Clarke received $300 scholarships from the NCLA Public Library Section.
The NCLA Children’s Services Section awarded a $600 scholarship to Deana Guido.
Brandy Hamilton and Alyce Kidd were awarded $100 scholarships from the NCLA Reference and Adult Services Section.
Irene Laube received a $300 scholarship from the NCLA Community and Junior College Section. 
The NCLA Technology and Trends Round Table granted a $600 scholarship to Susan Mayes.
Irish McNair was awarded a $300 scholarship from the NCLA Library Administration and Management Section.
Janice Woodward received a $500 scholarship from DEMCO.
The $150 Baker and Taylor scholarship was awarded to Rodney Lippard.

Fundraising

Donations from library vendors was less than anticipated.  Many contacts informed us that they only sponsor the national library associations.  Others cited the troubled economy.  A more assertive fundraising campaign, targeting more corporate prospects,    may yield a greater return.  Corporations may also respond more favorably from communication with the association’s chief executive officer, the NCLA President.       

Evaluations and Suggestions

At the end of each day, the participants provided feedback, which was incorporated into the next day’s teaching.  At the end of the Institute, the participants completed a survey.  According to the survey, all participants found the Institute worthwhile, with an average response of “very good” and no response lower than “good.”  The most valued segments of the Institute were those on coaching, conflict resolution, negotiations, and strategic planning.  Also important to the participants was the ability to network with others.  Comments from the participants include:

• This will assist me in my supervisory position and provide me with the information to allow me to assume more of a leadership position.
• I feel generally motivated to pursue strategic planning in my department instead of just going along in a crisis management mode.
•  I think this program has made a significant impact on my ability to do what I need to do.
• It has given me the tools to set into action, the ability to set goals, to achieve the vision I have for my library.
• It sharpened my leadership skills and my ability to make a difference in North Carolina libraries -- specifically using my strengths in planning and analysis.

The participants suggested the following changes for future Institutes:

• Pre and post leadership self evaluations.
• Definitely same location.
• Make it possible not to have to stay overnight.
• Use this as a model -- it has been so great.  Add a few other topics for variety.
• Since there is such a severe budget crisis within the state, it might be helpful to use this problem as the basis for an exercise.

Alumni Survey

In the summer of 2002, the committee interviewed thirty-three Leadership Institute alumni to solicit their feedback on the success of the program.  When asked if the Leadership Institute increased their confidence in leadership skills 30 responded yes (91%), 1 answered no (3%), and 2 (6%) replied with other comments.  Asked if their level of responsibility had increased in their library since attending the Leadership Institute 26 said yes (79%), and 7 answered no (21%).  Twenty two (61%) had increased their participation in state or national library associations.  The eleven who had not increased participation commented that cuts in travel budgets and limited staff made it difficult to be away from the library.  Finally, when asked if they would recommend the Leadership Institute to others all 33 responded yes, they would.  Some alumni surveyed have recommended colleagues who attended subsequent Leadership Institutes.    

Committee Recommendations

The NCLA Leadership Institute is a proactive program facilitating the development of leadership skills for professional librarians and paraprofessional library staff.  The committee recommends that NCLA continue to fund this valuable continuing education experience.  Leadership development is a core benefit for association members.  To expand the success of the Leadership Institute we recommend the following:    

• Move the Leadership Institute to the spring to avoid conflict with a potential annual conference in the fall.  
• Assign responsibility of coordinating speakers for the Leadership Institute to the committee.  This will reduce expenses considerably.       
• Involve the NCLA President in fundraising.  More corporations may contribute financially to support the Leadership Institute if the request comes from the association’s chief executive officer.     
• Open available seats to library personnel in other states.  Priority will be given to North Carolina librarians and paraprofessionals.  This will increase tuition revenue.         
• Include speakers from academic, public, school, and special libraries and the various library education institutions in North Carolina to promote the diversity of library leadership.       
• Offer advanced leadership seminars for Leadership Institute alumni to continue their leadership development.

Respectfully submitted,
Elisabeth Leonard and Robert James
Leadership Institute Co-Chairs
January 31, 2003

Appendix

2002 Leadership Institute Budget