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Application deadline: Monday, March 2nd 2009
Established in 2004, the Joey Rodger Fund for Library Leadership fosters leadership development in the urban library community. A grant of up to $5,000 is awarded annually to provide financial assistance to a senior level library administrator for participation in a leadership program or other development opportunity. The fund honors Eleanor Jo “Joey” Rodger, who led the ULC from 1992 to 2004. The fund continues to accept donations from individuals and institutions wishing to honor Rodger’s significant contributions to the library industry. If you would like to learn more about donating to this fund, please contact the ULC office 312-676-0999.
- 2008 Norice Lee, El Paso Public Library (TX)
- 2007 Debbie Moss, Orange County Library System (FL)
- 2005 Anne Masters, Pioneer Library System (OK)
2008 -Norice Lee, Manager of the Dorris Van Doren Regional Branch of the El Paso Public Library (TX)
Ms. Lee will attend the Leadership Lab offered through the Executive Education Program of the Brookings Institution in Warrenton, Virginia. ULC’s Joey Rodger Grant program aims to seed the library industry with innovative public sector leadership training. “The buzz phrase we most typically hear in our business is the value of ‘library as place,’” said Ms. Lee. “I believe that ‘the place of the library’ -- where we are positioned, our status, our ranking within the larger organization -- is what will help us get the resources we need to perform important work. It takes strong leadership to strategically position the library to its best advantage.”
2007 - Debbie Moss, Assistant Director of Orange County Library System (FL)
Debbie Moss, Assistant Director of the Orange County Library System, believes we need results that demonstrate a significant contribution to the community to demonstrate the library's role for tomorrow.
With funding from the Joey Rodger Leadership award Moss plans to participate in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard program "Driving Government Performance: Leadership Strategies that Produce Results." This program provides participants the tools to improve performance in their organizations and translate those results into additional support from the community and decision makers.
The Orange County Library System values innovation in service and Moss plans to unite that innovation with the "results-focused" leadership training throughout the Orange County Library System and the ULC membership.
2005 - Anne Masters, Associate Director for System Services of the Pioneer Library System (OK)
Ms. Masters was awarded $5000 to attend Heartland Center for Leadership Development to then develop a similar program for the system’s branch managers and administrative staff, preparing them for roles as partners and leaders in community development.
Ms. Masters’ application was inspired by the rapid growth of Cleveland County and the struggle to survive and maintain identity by the smaller towns in all the counties served by Pioneer. “The library’s service area includes small towns that are being subsumed into the Oklahoma City metroplex. They’re in an identity crisis,” she said. “With the proper training, PLS branch libraries can contribute to viability and growth of these communities and become key resources in their development.” (ULC Press Release) |
