Home → For Libraries → Continuing Education → Academy for Small/Rural Library Directors

Applications must be received by October 1, 2019. Participants will be notified by October 15, 2019. Please submit the online application. Print out and sign the Participation Agreement and return it when you submit your application. Send the signed agreement to Stephanie Zurinski, Maine State Library, 64 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333. Your board president or town manager must also sign this agreement.

*Participation Agreement [Word, 30kb]

*Short Agenda [Word, 19kb]

Academy for Small/Rural Public Library Directors

The Academy for Small/Rural Public Library Directors is an intensive and rewarding year-long learning experience. The goal is to reach new or inexperienced directors early in their tenure and provide targeted training that will give them the skills and support they need to be successful and to help their libraries not just survive but also thrive and grow. The Academy's objectives include increasing participant's knowledge of librarianship, basic library management, positioning library directors to be embedded and engaged in their communities, connecting library directors to the wider library community and peers in other libraries, establishing a professional support system using recognized library leaders as mentors, and familiarizing library directors with the services of the Maine State Library and related library organizations. There is no cost to attend this academy. Participation is limited to 20 people.

Participants who finish the Academy will receive a certificate and the Advanced Level Certification from the Voluntary Public Librarian Certification Program.

Participant Outcomes

Increased understanding of the scope of the job of a library director
Increased understanding of the challenges that libraries face
Increased understanding of the role of the library in the community
Increased visibility and value of the library in the community

Participants are expected to commit to:

Attending all five in-person sessions (Nov 15, 2019, January 17, 2020, March 20, 2020, May 1, 2020 and May 29, 2020
Working with a mentor for 6 months
Actively support the goals of the academy through a high level of engagement and participation
Sign and adhere to the participation agreement
Have their board president or town manager sign and adhere to the participation agreement

Agenda

Session 1 November 15, 2019 Foundations of Librarianship and Planning/Budgeting
Session 2 January 17, 2020 Human Resources and Boards
Session 3 March 20, 2020 Programming and Services/ Collection Development/Technology
Session 4 May 1, 2020 Buildings and Marketing/Advocacy
Session 5 May 29, 2020 Community Engagement and Certificate Presentation

If you have any questions, please contact Jenny Melvin via the Contact Us page.