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Choosing a Fellow as part of the ELI team can be an administrative decision or can involve a selection process. Travel to all three “intensives” is required. An MLS is not required. Two or more Fellows per project may be proposed, but the library team cost will increase, related to additional Fellow meals and lodging.
Characteristics of an appropriate Fellow should include the following:
- Has the potential (within 5 years) to be part of the library’s senior leadership team
- Understands challenges faced by today’s public libraries
- Indicates an interest in learning, personal change and institutional change
- Has experience in/knowledge of basic managerial skills – supervising, budget, planning, etc.
- Has credibility in the institution and enthusiastic backing of the Library Director
- Is willing and able to commit at least two days a week (cumulative, over 10-months) to work on the leadership challenge project
The selection of an appropriate Sponsor for this project is important. The Sponsor represents the library’s commitment to the outcomes of the leadership challenge project and the library’s investment in the Executive Leadership Institute. Travel to two “intensives” is required. An MLS is not required. Sponsors should:
- Have a senior position in the Library or community, be able to “open doors” for the Fellow, and bring attention and resources to the leadership challenge project
- Have enough time to guide the Fellow and champion the progress of the project in the library/community (but does not have to directly supervising the Fellow)
- Have a strong interest in learning and institutional change, and experience with leadership challenges
Successful leadership experiences for adults happen around action projects. When considering what project your ELI team should work on, think about projects that your library has prioritized but not started, or that are currently underway but not complete. Projects can be chosen as an administrative decision or with an institutional selection process. Major characteristics of a “good” leadership challenge should include many or all of the following:
The challenge project is significant:
- it impacts many departments across the library system
- it is a departure from the status quo, modeling new skills, problem-solving techniques and decision-making approaches
- it “stretches” the organization, involves significant risk, with the outcomes may be uncertain
- it is a priority project for the library director, the library and/or the community
The challenge project has an important goal:
- it will cause long-term institutional or community change
- it creates opportunities for action
- the goal is a priority, urgent, and real
- the goal is not a report
The challenge project impacts the community,
- it creates opportunities for the library and the community to collaborate on an important issue
- it responds to an urgent need in the community
- it builds community capacity, resources and partnerships
- it reflects community diversity
ELI is not a remedial program, it is an opportunity available to and investment in libraries committed to leadership development and positive transformation of the profession.
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