ALA Emerging Leaders Group I
2025 Cohort
Developing Tomorrow's Leaders
Public Library Association delivers a varied program of professional development to help public library workers grow throughout their careers. To understand the needs of the field and PLA's unique value proposition, participants in this project researched and documented leadership-focused professional development opportunities for public libraries across state associations, regional networks, and system cooperatives.
Learn more about the ALA Emerging Leaders Class of 2025
Research on leadership-focused professional development opportunities for public libraries.
A project for the American Library Association's Emerging Leaders Class of 2025.
This project was done in collaboration with the Public Library Association.
Getting Started
We met our Emerging Leaders cohort in Phoenix, Arizona during LibLearnX. We received our project description and met our PLA member guide.
When Group I first met at LibLearnX in January, our initial focus was getting to know each other. We all shared where we were from, what library we worked at and our role in that library as well as what had drawn us to pick this specific project. It was immediately clear that we all shared a passion for leadership, but most importantly that we wanted to help those around us become leaders too. Professional development is an important part of that.
How can we make professional development better?
Goals and
Expected Outcomes
01
An environmental scan of leadership-and-management-focused professional development offerings available for public library workers.
02
Identification of gaps and overlaps of professional development across national and regional associations with a focus on diversity, accessibility, and equity. Identify needs, potential barriers, and areas for improvement.
03
Provide recommendations for future Public Library Association (PLA) focus areas in a written report supported by research and testimonials.