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Greetings Colleagues,
I trust this e-mail finds you well. Today I’m celebrating the announcement of funding for Phase 4 of the HBCU Library Alliance Leadership Program. EXCITING NEWS!!!
An excerpt from the award letter reads “I am pleased to inform you that the Trustees of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation have approved a grant to support the strengthening of libraries of historically black colleges and universities.”
Strengthening the libraries of our institutions is the goal of this grant. Strong librarians build strong libraries; our librarians must be equipped with the leadership skills and tools to transform the library into a “center of excellence.” Strong librarians are advocates, leaders, and change agents. Strong librarians at HBCU institutions know the value of leadership and embrace their role as “gatekeepers” sharing knowledge and preserving the legacy of our culture and history.
The new grant includes these dynamic components:
Leadership Institute: The Leadership Institute is an intensive educational and professional development program specifically designed to provide theoretical instruction, practical experience, and personal development for current and emerging library leaders within the context of the HBCU academic environment. Phase IV of the Leadership Institute will continue the successful combination of shorter face-to-face and web-based sessions developed for Phase III and will be offered to twenty-four librarians over a nine-month period. Three-day face-to-face sessions will be held at the beginning and end of the Institute. In between the kickoff and closing sessions, eight web-based classes will be held.
Exchange Program: The Exchange Program focuses on development of emerging leaders at HBCU libraries. In Phase IV of the
Leadership Program, the exchange program will be expanded to allow for hosts from HBCUs as well as ASERL. Six more HBCU librarians will work with another library, either an HBCU or ASERL library, on a pre-identified area for strategic development within the HBCU
This will encourage sharing of HBCU library best practices, increase networking within the HBCU community, and explore internal capacity to sustain the exchange program beyond the grant.
Strategic Assessment of Library Services at HBCUs: Effective service assessment can improve library services, increase the visibility of and promote library services on campus, prepare libraries for accreditation, and even change organizational culture. As a means of supporting current leaders in efforts to strengthen libraries, Phase IV of the Leadership Program will provide focused programming on user assessment. Programming will include a 1.5 day training session and provision of $7,500 mini-grants to support implementation of LibQUAL+® at four HBCU libraries.
Leadership Development Webinars for Deans and Directors: To foster leadership and staff development within HBCU libraries, four educational webinar programs will be offered specifically for HBCU library deans and directors. The webinars will focus on strategies, tools, and programs for effective staff development to foster leadership skills. Programs will be designed to increase awareness of the library director’s role in supporting and sponsoring development of leadership among emerging leaders.
Sustainability Planning: The Leadership Program has been a key focus of the HBCU Library Alliance since its founding. Leadership development is recognized by the membership as a priority and an ongoing need. Successful leaders also rely upon the Alliance for continuing support and community networking. The existing Leadership Program is completely grant funded. Future programs need to evolve to a self-sustaining model. To develop such a model, the project staff will work with leaders in the HBCU Library Alliance and at LYRASIS to research needs, identify and assess options, and develop a sustainability plan.
Take seriously the goal of this last round of grant-funded Leadership programming. Let’s work to strengthen HBCU libraries and develop a self -sustaining model for future leadership programs.
Stay tuned for more information on eligibility and application requirements.
Respectfully,
Sandra
SANDRA M. PHOENIX
Program Director
HBCU Library Alliance
sphoenix@hbculibraries.org
http://www.hbculibraries.org/
404.592.4820
Skype:sandra.phoenix1
1438 West Peachtree Street NW
Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30309
Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis)
Fax: 404.892.7879
http://www.lyrasis.org/
Honor the ancestors, honor the children.
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