Maine Librarians Engage and Lead

• Are you interested in developing new skills and knowledge about being a library leader in Maine?
• Do you want to learn how to better engage with your community?
• Do you want to work on a project that develops your leadership, collaboration and project management skills?

Maine Librarians Engage and Lead (MLEL) is the Maine State Library’s redesigned year-long leadership program that focuses on personal leadership development, collaborative team work and project management.

The program’s purpose is to develop librarians who can serve in leadership roles at the local, regional, state and national levels and who can work effectively with their community to build collaborative relationships that result in community services that are transformative and sustainable over time. This program has a direct impact on communities by engaging librarians and community groups in a conversation to identify needs, find ways to improve the quality of life in their communities, and determine the role of the library in meeting community needs.

Participants will:

• assess their personal leadership style
• learn a variety of methods to assess community needs
• learn how to work with other community organizations to partner together to benefit the community
• work with their directors/supervisors to assess community needs and engage with a community leader
• work in teams on a community-based project

Participants will be expected to:

• participate actively in all sessions whether in-person or virtual meetings in concert with the program
• work closely with their director or board to engage the community
• form strong ties with at least one community organization
• participate actively in evaluation of this program
• communicate with the MSL leadership team and participants
• attend MLA 2018 for a cohort meeting and presentation

The program will consist of 3 day-long meetings and inter-session work that culminates in a presentation at the MSL Fall Council Meeting at the MLA Conference in the fall of 2018. We anticipate that the time committment will be in the range of 60-70 hours but that will depend on the community-based project. We are still finalizing arrangements but the calendar is shaping up like this:

• Session 1: October 27, 2017- leadership style assessment, team building, communication and influence
• Intersession assignment - community research
• Session 2: january 19, 2018- community building, partnering, collaboration, facilitation
• Intersession assignment: partner research
• Session 3: April 6, 2018- work in groups with partner to plan project
• Intersession assignment: implement project
• Session 4: October at MLA - present on the program and your project; wrap up and next steps meeting

Scholarships will be available for participants traveling 200 miles or more to the meetings to cover mileage or for a hotel room.

If you have a desire to be a leader in your community, are able to organize projects and work with others, and are motivated to apply for this leadership opportunity, please talk with your supervisor or director and apply to be part of this exciting project. Apply now!