(via Helen Spielbauer, National Network of Libraries of Medicine – Greater Midwest Region)
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is pleased to announce the 2017-2018 year of the leadership program jointly sponsored with the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL). The NLM/AAHSL Leadership Fellows Program is focused on preparing emerging leaders for the position of library director in academic health sciences libraries. The application deadline is Friday, July 28.
The Leadership Fellows Program has been remarkably successful in helping to move well prepared leaders into AAHSL directors’ positions. Seventy-nine fellows and 65 different mentors have participated in the program from 2002-2017. To date, 39 fellows have received director appointments and over 58 percent have been promoted to director or other positions of higher responsibility.
Fellows will have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in a variety of learning settings, including exposure to leadership in another environment. They will be paired with mentors who are academic health sciences library directors. In addition to the individual relationship with their mentors, fellows benefit from working collaboratively with other fellows and mentors. Experienced program faculty and mentors will provide content and facilitation for the cohort. The program takes advantage of flexible scheduling and an online learning community to minimize disruption to professional and personal schedules. The sponsors will provide financial support for a small cohort of fellows and will underwrite travel and meeting expenses.
Program Overview
The one-year program design is multi-faceted: three in-person leadership institutes; attendance at an Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) annual meeting; a year-long fellow/mentor relationship; webinars and discussions on issues related to library leadership; and two weeks of site visit to the mentor’s home library.
The program is designed to benefit participants in the following ways.
- introduce fellows to leadership theory and practical tools for implementing change at organizational and professional levels
- introduce fellows to critical issues facing academic health sciences libraries
- develop meaningful professional relationships between fellows and mentors that give fellows access to career guidance and support
- expose fellows to another academic health sciences library and its institutional leadership under the guidance of their mentors
- examine career development and provide models of directors to fellows
- create a cohort of leaders who will draw upon each other for support throughout their careers
- promote diversity in the leadership of the profession
- offer recognition to emerging leaders and enhance the competitive standing of fellows as they pursue director positions
Application Process
The NLM/AAHSL Leadership Fellows Program is currently accepting applications and nominations for the July 28, 2017 deadline for potential fellows for the 2017-2018 experience. Candidates for fellow should have a strong interest in pursuing a directorship in academic health sciences libraries, as well as prior management experience. Applications are welcomed from professionals working in academic health sciences libraries, hospital libraries, or other library-related settings. Applications from qualified minority candidates are encouraged.
Directors with at least five years’ experience as director of an academic health sciences library should indicate preliminary interest in being matched as a mentor by contacting the Leadership Fellows Program Director at the address below by Friday, July 28. The program brochure, which includes information on program design, schedule, and application process, is available on the AAHSL website. For more information about the program, please contact Carol Jenkins, Program Director, AAHSL Future Leadership Committee, at carol_jenkins@unc.edu.