PLA - Index of Columns | Public Libraries Online

Columns

NYLA's Leadership Academy

In 2005, the New York Library Association (NYLA) launched its Leadership and Management Academy. The Leadership Academy was created to educate emerging leaders in the library profession on topics and issues essential to becoming an effective library manager or director.

WLLI: Developing Librarians

It was the spring of 2001 and I was 15 months into my job as Library Director of the Johnson County Library System in Wyoming. I was born and raised in the small town of Buffalo--4000 people. My employment at the Johnson County Library began in 1990 as the young adult librarian, technical services librarian, circulation librarian and all-round jack-of-all-trades librarian.

Synergy and Me

What is synergy? Merriam Webster Online Dictionary defines “synergy” as “a mutually advantageous conjunction of compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (as resources or efforts).” The library leadership initiative in Illinois, also called Synergy, strives to do just that. It’s beyond networking; it’s the bringing together of librarians with leadership potential with the simple goal of equipping the group with the necessary tools to become future Illinois library leaders.

Reflections on Library Leadership

When you have been out of a field for a while it's only natural to think that it might require something as drastic as boot camp to get back into the swing of things. I had been involved in libraries since I was a teenager, working my way up to library assistant when a poor economy intervened and sent me off in another career direction. I worked as a graphic designer, art director, printer and teacher. But eventually it all came back to libraries and a secret desire to work where I could read on the job. So I went to library school.

Library Leadership in Massachusetts

At eighteen I wanted to be a librarian, but life took a different path back then. I didn’t find it again for almost thirty years. Not until I reconnected with my need to unlock the mysteries and gain access to the stories and ideas that repose in libraries.

Library Leadership 2000: Quilting a Vision for Ohio Libraries… and Beyond!

Seventeen years ago (1993) I was one of thirty Ohio librarians selected to participate in the inaugural class of the Ohio Library Leadership 2000 (otherwise known as LL2000) Institute. To paraphrase from the popular TV show Project Runway, this was my personal ‘chance-of-a-lifetime”. Knowing I was interested in applying, my library director and branch manager encouraged me to apply and were supportive throughout the process.

ILA Leadership Institute

As a 1997 graduate of the Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science, I didn’t think I’d ever return home to Iowa – I wanted to explore the world and the big bad city of Chicago. However, I needed some experience and DPL was hiring. For seven years I worked as a reference librarian at the Davenport Public Library (DPL). It was my first “professional” job right out of library school. I’m certainly glad I came home!

PALS-PaLA (Pennsylvania Library Association) Academy of Leadership Studies

We are very fortunate in Pennsylvania to have a very strong library association and many, many leaders within the organization. One of those leaders came to a realization one day. Mary Garm (Administrator of the Lackawanna County Library System), as President of PaLA, looked around and realized that, although she was surrounded by many great leaders, all the faces looked very familiar. She decided that the association needed to find ways to get more newer librarians involved. She decided it was time for PaLA to have a leadership initiative that developed leaders from

PALS: A Friendly Leadership Experience

NOTE: this article was first published in the Pennsylvania Library Association Bulletin and is reprinted by permission.

Internet Spotlight

"Internet Spotlight" explores Internet and Web topics relevant to librarians in the public library sector. Your input is welcome.

Power to the People

This issue’s Internet Spotlight column is taking shape at 38,000 feet, somewhere over the middle of the United States. Flying back from the 2010 Computers in Libraries Conference, both our heads are full of fresh ideas, things to research, opinions to think about, questions that need to be answered, new friends and colleagues, and … a dead battery or two.

From The President

From the President is a regularly-appearing column written by the current PLA President.

Telling the Story of Public Libraries

This column represents my sign-off as president of the Public Library Association (PLA). It has been an honor to serve the PLA members and to represent our organization both nationally and internationally. As I close the book on my presidency, I would like to acknowledge the PLA staff members who make the difficult task of supporting the work of our committees, task force projects, and Communities of Practice (CoPs) look so easy.

Internet Spotlight

"Internet Spotlight" explores Internet and Web topics relevant to librarians in the public library sector. Your input is welcome.

Foursquare for Libraries

In this Internet Spotlight column, let’s play a game. But not just any game. What if we make it a game that’s played completely online, that you can play with friends, and gives rewards for doing well? While we’re at it, let’s make it location-based (more on that in a second). Anyone know what game we’re talking about? If you guessed Foursquare, you are correct!

What is Foursquare?

From The President

From the President is a regularly-appearing column written by the current PLA President.

Unleash the Power of the Library

Public libraries are a unique network of service providers that exist to ensure that all citizens have free access to information and materials that are critical to daily life. Increasingly, this means providing access to computers and the Internet.

From The President

From the President is a regularly-appearing column written by the current PLA President.

Readers Are Our Best Advocates

In 2005, the Online Computer Library Center’s (OCLC) study Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources identified two critical facts about library service.¹ First, the study revealed that most people come to public libraries for print materials. Second, it found that people associate libraries, first and foremost, with books. There is no runner-up. We’re known primarily as book places and, thus, books are our brand.

Internet Spotlight

"Internet Spotlight" explores Internet and Web topics relevant to librarians in the public library sector. Your input is welcome.

Dealing with Comments on Your Website

In the last ten years or so, there’s been a bit of a revolution on the Web.Yeah, yeah, we all know that. But this time we are talking about the sometimes loved, occasionally dreaded comment box.

Book Talk

Book Talk provides authors’ perspectives on libraries, books,technology, and information. If you have any suggestions of authorsyou would like to see featured in Book Talk, or if you are interested involunteering to be an author-interviewer, contact Kathleen Hughes,Editor of Public Libraries, at the Public Library Association, 50 E. HuronSt., Chicago, IL 60611; khughes@ala.org.

Call to Action

An Interview with Nicholas D. Kristof

New York Times journalist Nicholas D. Kristof has twice won the Pulitzer Prize: the first was shared with his wife Sheryl WuDunn for their coverage of China’s Tiananmen Square democracy movement, and the second was awarded for his 2006 coverage of the genocide in Darfur. For the past twenty years, he has traveled the world, and has recently focused his attention on women’s issues in developing countries.

From the President

Planning For Portland

It may be too early to pack, but it’s not too early to plan for the 2010Public Library Association (PLA) National Conference. I hope you’ll joinme March 23–27, 2010, in Portland at the Oregon Convention Center.