NYLA Developing Leaders Program 

The Developing Leaders Program’s mission is to connect, educate, and empower rising leaders in the library profession. This comprehensive six-month program, running from January to June, is tailored for library professionals with a minimum of three years of experience looking to explore and strengthen their leadership skills

Application deadline EXTENDED through November 29 or until the cohort is full (30 people).

Apply here.

Who Should Attend

The Developing Leaders Program (DLP) is seeking dedicated individuals ready to take the next step in their careers by gaining insights from established library leaders, building relationships with fellow aspiring leaders, and expanding their statewide network.

DLP participants have the opportunity to:

  • Develop the confidence and skills to effectively navigate daily challenges as a new leader or manager.

  • Build and strengthen a professional network to access ideas, support, and partnerships.

  • Effectively and innovatively address macro and micro issues within the New York State library community through collaborative efforts.

The DLP is limited to 30 participants. Library professionals from every type of library are encouraged to apply.

Sessions

The program consists of two in-person sessions and 11 live virtual sessions via Zoom. The Kick-off and Capstone sessions are held in-person in Albany, NY. See full schedule below.

Upon completing the DLP participants will receive 50 contact hours. 
The hours are broken down into:
36 hours for DLP sessions (in person & online)
14 hours for Capstone Project

Session  Date           Faculty Location
Kick off January 7 Matthew Bollerman

In Person @ Capital District Library Council
Communication Skills January 23 Brian Hildreth Zoom
Project and Time Management January 30 Ron Kirsop Zoom
Partnerships and Collaborations February 13  Suzanne Macaulay Zoom
Research, Data, and Assessment February 27 Matt Corey Zoom
Advocacy March 13 Max Prime Zoom
Human Resources March 27 Lisa Kropp Zoom
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging April 10 Dr. Brooke Paradise Zoom
Change Management April 24 Rebekkah Smith Aldrich Zoom
Crisis Management and Preparedness May 8 Brian Candelori and Tamyka Miles Zoom
Marketing and Personal Branding May 22 Kerstin Cruger Zoom
Coaching and Mentoring June 5 Jill Hurst Wahl Zoom
Capstone Presentations June 9  Faculty, Participants, Guest, and NYLA staff In Person @ Capital District Library Council

 

Attendance at all sessions is mandatory; however, we acknowledge that emergencies may arise.

Capstone Project

The Capstone Project serves as a practical incubator for DLP participants to refine their leadership skills. Participants are organized into teams of 3-6 people and each team is assigned an advisor. 

Past projects include:

  • Case study on how story time participation was increased among immigrant communities at a specific library. 

  • Creating a system to replicate an exemplary partnership between a public and school library.

  • Facilitating a professional development program exploring the best practices and strategies to raise the profile of an academic library. 

The Capstone project is presented in-person, by all team members at the final DLP session in June. 

Networking

A strong professional network is an invaluable asset for any leader. As a DLP participant, you will have multiple opportunities to engage with fellow cohort members, team advisors, program facilitators, and individuals listed in the DLP Network Directory. We acknowledge that building connections can be particularly challenging in a virtual environment. Therefore, we encourage participants to proactively ask questions, reach out to others, and take the initiative to be the first to contribute during program sessions, group activities, or independently.

Tuition

Tuition is $650.
This includes all DLP sessions and program materials.
The cost does not include participant travel or lodging.

Application Timeline

Applications for the 2025 cohort will be accepted from September 16 to October 31, 2024. Applicants will need to submit a resume, letter of interest, and one professional reference. Apply here.

Questions?
Contact NYLA Director of Communications & Member Engagement at [email protected].

Our Current Cohort

Stay tuned for our 2025 Developing Leaders Program Cohort announcement later this year...

Past Cohorts

2024 Cohort

2022-2023 Cohort

2020-2021 Cohort

2019-2020 Inaugural Cohort