Emerging Leader 2011 - Now What

I was thrilled to be able to participate in the American Library Association's Emerging Leader program for the class of 2011.  The program allowed me to meet librarians from all over the country, some of which I hope to maintain lifelong friendships.  The program allowed me to learn a significant amount of information about ALA and provided me the opportunity to get more involved with the organizational side of the organization.  I truly believe that the Emerging Leaders program has given me opportunities that I would never have had otherwise.  The opportunity to meet and mingle with ALA officials and staff was not only memorable, but it gave the opportunity to create professional ties with many people I might not otherwise have met and/or had the courage to speak to on my own.

I am excited to say that my participation in the Emerging Leaders program along with my participation in my state library association has allowed me to help push forward and solidify the Arkansas Library Association's future sponsorship of Emerging Leader participants.  The Arkansas Library Association will start sponsoring an Emerging Leader participant with the 2012 Emerging Leader Class.

Since having finished my term as an Emerging Leader, I have taken on three virtual committee/task-force roles within ALA.  I also presented a program on the Emerging Leaders program at the Arkansas Library Association Centennial conference in September 2011.This program was well attended and included great questions and comments from the audience.  I will also be providing a follow up article for the Arkansas Library Journal (I have previously published an article on the Emerging Leaders program in the Arkansas Library Journal, but this will be a follow up article that focuses on my conference program and my Emerging Leaders project, Deadlines ALA."

Team J - Emerging Leaders class 2011