Imagination

As leaders (e.g. children's librarians, educators, caregivers), it is understood that we are to cultivate imagination. However, it was not until I read the final sentence in the following quote by Julius Lester that I fully understood the concept:

"The failure of modern living is the failure of the imagination. The root meaning of the word imagine is "to picture oneself." In other words, when we imagine, we create an inner picture of something not visible to our physical eye. One kind of picture we are all acustomed to is an image of something we have done or witnessed. This is the visual aspect of memory. It is not imagination. Imagination requires something more of us. It requires that we see what we have not seen, what we many never see, what may not even exist."

From "Re-imagining the Possibilities," The Horn Book, May/June 2000

Standing on My Mother's Shoulders

On the ride home from the hospital, Cole didn't say a word, nor did he respond to questions and comments my mother and I used to try to engage him. With lips pursed and eyes bright, this not-yet-three-year-old boy appeared to be in serious contemplation about leaving his mommy and daddy ... and the new baby sister.

I gave him a kiss on the cheek.

As my own father, mother, and I tried to determine which "expensive cuisine" menu items we would like from Taco Bell, Cole piped in that he didn't want a "soft OR hard ta-o." From this point on, I would describe him as inconsolable if it weren't for the leadership of my mother.

I've seen her comfort him on numerous "inconsolable" occasions and watched yet again her patience and love as she held him, explained to him, listened to his wants, and tried to distract him with his favorite topics and objects.

My mother's leadership has ultimately taught me to be compassionate ... to help others in need. Not only has her example shaped my communication in working with young human beings, but it has also influenced my life attitude ... my wanting to make a difference in the world.

Crisis as Story

In Telling Your Own Stories, Donald Davis provides several one-sentence prompts that he hopes will help story seekers uncover a treasured tale.

He also states, "The central hinge of any story plot is crisis," and then explains that, "A crisis is any happening which takes a part of our lives with which we are comfortable and turns it upside down so that we have to adjust to a world that is shaped differently than before."

Yesterday, my family experienced a major crisis; Ellie Paige was born.

Baby, have we got stories for you ...

Digital Storytelling

While preparing for the Storytelling Techniques for a Preschool Audience workshop last month, I came across Jason Ohler's resources, particularly his digital storytelling book.

When I was looking at his website, I found his interpretation of a story's core elements intriguing. His image (scroll up a tad) of the problem or tension ("the new you pushing to change") needing a solution or resolution (from the "old you resisting change") spoke to me.

Change makes the story of our lives.

More and more I am seeing life as "story" and the potential for sharing all kinds of stories to transform lives and learn.

Conflict Resolution and Classroom Management

Conflict Resolution with Preschoolers

1. Approach calmly, stopping any hurtful actions.

2. Acknowledge children's hurt feelings.

3. Gather information.

4. Restate the problem.

5. Ask for ideas for solutions and choose one together.

6. Be prepared to give follow up support.


From Real Science in Preschool: Here, There, and Everywhere by Polly Neill.

Classroom Management

1. Reduce a child's agitation. Acknowledge his/her feelings by:
A. Identifying it: "You sound disappointed. It can be upsetting when ..."

B. Accepting the feeling, but not the harmful action: "You are so disappointed that you are ... I can't allow that, but you can ..."

2. Open the line of communication.
A. State your expectations.

B. Describe the problem and your disapproval or reactions/feelings to it instead of accusing.

C. Point out a way the child could be helpful.

D. Instead of criticizing, point out what needs to be done: "All this poem needs now is correct spelling, and it's ready for the bulletin board!"

3. Help the child or student resolve a problem.
A. Brainstorm together. Write down all ideas without evaluating.

B. Give information.

C. Talk about consequences and how to put certain ideas into action.

D. Offer a choice.

4. Reduce desire to misbehave.
A. Look for opportunities to praise the child or put him in a situation where he can view himself differently.

B. Let the child overhear you say something positive about her.

C. Model the behavior you would like to see.

D. Remind the child of past accomplishments.


Adapted from How to Talk So Kids Can Learn: At Home and in School by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

I Have Returned to a Full-Time Position

Unexpectantly, a new, full-time children's librarian "floater" position opened up at my current place of employment. Under union contract, I was able to move into this position (having recently been "bumped" to part-time).

Hooray! One of the many opportunities and blessings I am thankful for today.

Happy Thanksgiving!

American Sign Language and Libraries

While at the Ontario Library Super Conference in January of 2008, I went to a session that suggested introducing American Sign Language (ASL) to young, hearing children, even during library programs.

Here are some notes:

Use ASL ...
1) with the youngest child to reduce frustration due to lack of speech and correspondingly develop the child's confidence (narrative skills)
2) to promote parent-child bonding (print motivation)
3) to increase spelling and reading comprehension. You are sharing language before the child can speak and are occasionally spelling out words. (letter knowledge, vocabulary)

(Correlation to Every Child Ready to Read's early literacy skills.)

Refer to the research of Dr. Marilyn Daniels that found that ASL helps create more brain synapses and uses both sides of the brain.

ASL also addresses different learning styles or multiple intelligences:
physical - move fingers, hands, arms
visual - see signs
verbal - eventually, say words with signs
music - add fingerplays
math - the pattern of a sign and finger space
interpersonal - sharing signs with others
intrapersonal - thinking of choice of signs/words to share

Here is the presenter's website, and here is her presentation ("Benefits of Sign Language for Children") powerpoint and resource lists.
Here is a recommended website on infant signing.

The presenter recommended that librarians can begin to include ASL in library programming by presenting one sign per page of a story or verse of a song. She also reminded the audience of the quote:

"If you tell me, I will forget. If you show me, I may remember. If you involve me, I will learn."

Customer Care Creed

The following is adapted from issue number 567 from the "First-Rate Customer Service" newsletter:

When I am here, serving people is my No. 1 concern.

I plan to be fully present while I am working and to make myself available beyond a strict 9-to-5 mentality.

I am committed to independent development. I will read, discuss, and learn on my own so that I bring value to my job and others.

I will take the initiative to help my team move in useful new directions and to rely more on foresight than hindsight.

Extra effort, extra sensitivity, and extra focus are the keys to making others' experiences satisfying.

I believe that cultivating these qualities creates a better product and leads to (positive) change.

I believe that they are marks of a leader...

"Never Hurry and Never Worry!"

While I was not selected to attend the Bill Morris Seminar in 2010, a former professor reminded me that "... there will be other opportunities, and you have had a lot of wonderful, special experiences lately ..."

When I read this reaction, I thought, "That is true."

At the end of today, I feel that this confirmation is even stronger ...

(Thank you.)

Storytelling and Silence

Over the course of about twelve years as a student and also paid, professional musician, I had the privilege of performing under various conductors. At this moment, I can recall at least three separate music visionaries who emphasized the importance of silence.

"Music is made on the background of silence," quoted one.

"What's the most important note of this piece?" asked another as he guided us through Hoe-Down from the Rodeo suite by Copeland. The answer was the collective rest in the second to last bar of the piece.

These bits of comparable wisdom were exactly the kind of images I lacked when presenting "Storytelling Techniques to Use with Preschoolers" last Friday, November 6; I've determined that some of the best storytellers utilize not only the catch all terms "voice" and "pacing," but most importantly, they are not afraid of silence ... the space between thoughts ... and words.

This is what I should have illustrated last week instead of just stating the cliched tip, "Take your time. Breathe."

Next time I should tell stories to teach storytelling ...

Discovering the World of Children

My first experience involving young children (which was inadvertently also my first experience with storytime) was in middle school.

As part of a seventh or eighth grade honors English "career mentorship" project, I was paired with then Vindicator columnist Jane Tims. While I wasn't necessarily considering a career in journalism, Jane provided experiences based on a love of writing and reading. For example, I was able to attend a Scribblers meeting and share my poetry. I was able to write her emails sharing my teenage thoughts and feelings. I even accompanied her on a visit to a Youngstown city school where she volunteered her time to read them a story ...

After the story, Jane stayed a while longer to help the children (and thus the teacher!) with their school work. While I didn't then know the best words or all of the appropriate reactions to use when interacting with children, I remember feeling good about being there. The children amazed me ... their tangible emotions whether energized and exuberant or contemplative and reserved ... awed me. It was a satisfying and a surprising journey of self-discovery to guide them as they worked through questions. I remember talking about this experience when I got home ...

Isn't it strange how this (until now, forgotten) experience fits as piece into the puzzle of now?

November Is New

This is a busy first week for a new month ...

This week's activities:

1. I have started my part-time position.

2. I have filled out paperwork to see if I am eligible for partial unemployment.

3. I have programs every day, up to 4 in one day!

4. I have started outreach programs from the Austintown branch.

5. The individuals selected to attend the Bill Morris Seminar will be contacted.

6. I will give a presentation on storytelling techniques and focus on kinds of stories for the preschool audience.

7. I need to think about the trips I want to take in 2010 and request the appropriate days off.


Thoughts on these activities:

1. Part-time for a short term may be a gift, but it is intimidating for the long term.

2. Check. (double entendre?)

3. Now that the week has started, I feel fine with this load. I am prepared. A fellow children's librarian's wisdom echoes in my head and reminds me that the librarian herself needs to have fun ...

4. Outreach went well today. I am becoming a better communicator but still have room to grow.

5. *fingers crossed*

6. Preparing for Friday's presentation is also preparing me for my potential presentation in March concerning learning (science) through storytelling. Not only have I found other resources that are passionate about this same idea, it has also given me the opportunity to re-discover the art of storytelling and set higher goals for myself.

[Hooray for an early birthday gift from mother ... membership in the National Storytelling Network!]

7. Now that I am on an ALSC Committee, I will need to attend Mid-Winter and Annual. I won't know if I will be able to do the OCTELA presentation until January ... On a personal note, I need to visit my relatives in Finland with my mother while she can still connect me to them.

Standing on My Father's Shoulders

One evening after supper, I curled up on the couch and asked my nephew Cole what book he would like me to read to him. From his stack of library books, he picked the classic Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.

The text was a little long for a two and half year old, so I read as expressively as I could and interspersed the story with dialogic reading in order to keep his attention. Half way through the story, my father joined us on the couch, and I insisted he finish the reading. My voice was a bit tired, and I thought that a new reader would bring new life to the story.

Indeed he did.

While my father read, he naturally added sound effects and physical interactions with Cole (tickling, tapping, etc). He easily modified the text; he repeated phrases and added humorous comments or explanations that would engage Cole's imagination but also make adults (like me) chuckle.

I was in awe. I was entertained. I felt grateful.

My father is an amazing educator, and I now see how his storytelling proficiency inspired my own interest in stories, reading, and ultimately learning.

I hope to get a few of his animated and humorous story readings on video for posterity.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Almost two years into my professional career, I have begun to revisit the notes I took while a graduate student in library school. A week ago, I discovered this quote:

"I have lived on the work that other people have done before me."

This idea is one I have finally come to understand and appreciate.

As I now work at different locations in my library system and continue to network through professional listservs, my peers introduce me to so many ideas ... ideas that spark my own creative juices and renew my passion. Ideas that I build onto.

My early learning science correlations are building on the work of my former professors ... professors like Sue McCleaf Nespeca who suggested storytime "extensions" that went beyond crafts to include science experiments and other subject area explorations ... professors like Michelle Baldini who headed a book correlation project for the K-5 academic content standards that is now posted on the Institute for Library and Information Literacy Education website.


Following this interest of incorporating educational standards into libraries, I recall one session at ALA Annual that has influenced me. It was called "State Academic Standards + Library Programs = Educationally Enhanced Children's Programs."

While librarians do address the standards in the activities we do, we need to be aware of the language used in our community/state and reiterate it during our programs. With Every Child Ready to Read and Saroj Ghoting's Early Literacy Storytimes, librarians now have incentive and even scripts on how to outwardly address the early literacy skills. However, I believe it is important that librarians do this with ALL standards and subjects, not just the area of reading and language.

Librarians do support education, and while we may be conscious of why we do what we do, we need to articulate our rationale to the public. Not only does this raise a caregiver's awareness of a child's ability to learn, it raises awareness of the importance of libraries in the community ... and the awareness that libraries do need levy support to fulfill such services.

Leading Effectively and Dynamically

I just found an awarding-winning website about leadership through the Think Quest website.

I will explore the site further at a different time. However, I did notice an interesting article that contrasts "leadership" and "management" ... concepts that I would have thought were more similar than dissimilar.

I also took the Student Leadership Scale (quiz). My results:

Integrity = Excellent
Servanthood = Very Good
Empowerment of Subordinates = Very Good
Appreciation of People = Very Good
Shared Vision = Good
Innovation = Very Good

It is interesting that "Shared Vision" ranked lowest, since this is what I struggled with during my Emerging Leader experience.

(Social vs. Professional) Networking

This is just a little post to say

how I excited I am today

to learn from peers

whose ideas I hear

while networking on the internet

Who are our peers?

Which is our set?

In Venn Diagrams

How many intersections

can we sect?

Where is the line between

social

(and)

professional?

LNOSCY

Last Tuesday, I received an email responding to my ALSC Committee Volunteer application form.

I was surprised to see that I had been invited to serve immediately as a member of the Liaisons with National Organizations Serving Children and Youth (LNOSCY) committee for a two-year term.

I am excited and feel strongly about the functions and goals of this committee! I see it as a great opportunity to learn about and market to other child-friendly organizations as well as network with a broader selection of peers and gain leadership skills. This commitment also fulfills my "final" Emerging Leader charge to serve on a "real" committee.

In light of our budget concerns at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County and my switch from full to part-time, I was initially concerned about my ability to accept this invitation.

Fortunately, I work in a system that values professional development and supports it as they are able.

I have accepted the invitation!

Learn to Change

Tonight I attended the premiere of Steel Valley: Meltdown, a documentary covering "Our History ... Our Choices ... Our Future" in Youngstown, Ohio. (Thank you, Mom, for being an avid Vindicator reader and informing me about it.)

Having taken classes like Urban Sociology and Cultural Landscapes at Youngstown State University, the history and choices were not unfamiliar to me. However, I had not been fully aware of nor had I fully explored a possible future economy in green technology and information.

Both of these topics made me think of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County -- the green buildings we have been willing and courageous to build and the information services we have adapted during 100 plus years of service in our community. Being a believer in libraries as community centers, my only disappointment in the film then was not seeing at least one shot of the downtown, Carnegie-built Main library.

The other idea and phrase in tonight's documentary that caught my attention was "... learn to change ..." Throughout the documentary, interviewees -- leaders like Mayor Williams and Congressman Ryan and academics like Professor Linkon -- talked about the changes that have taken place in the community and the need to adapt to these changes. Most importantly, Ryan referred to the idea that unforeseen changes are yet to come, so we need to learn how to be adaptable and not just adapt right now.

We need to learn how to change.

Defend Youngstown by supporting YOUR Library!

Wherever You Go, There You Are

I am here!

This is my second day of my new position here at the Austintown branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. Though I very much loved my previous position at Main, the change is refreshing.

I like it here.

I rediscovered a quote that I wrote down in spring of 2008, a few months into my "new" job at Main. It is still pertinent today:

"... allow this moment to be exactly as it is, and allow yourself to be exactly as you are."

from Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Zabat-Zinn.

Keeping Busy

Overall, I can report good news (both professional and personal) from the last three weeks.

Here it is in chronological order:

Working with my EMIE Bulletin contact, I have an approved topic to write about and submit -- probably for the first issue of 2010.

While developing ideas for the OCTELA presentation proposal, I contacted a former Kent State University professor and discovered that I may have the opportunity to post my early learning science content standard alignment project on the ILILE website.

I submitted an application for the opportunity to be part of the Association for Library Services to Children's (ALSC) Bill Morris Seminar.

I emailed another contact I made at ALA's Mid-Winter Conference and submitted a committee volunteer form for ALSC.

I still have a job in the library serving children, but it will be changed to a part-time position at another location. This gives me the opportunity to work with different co-workers, to experience programming in a different community, and to fully welcome my new niece when she arrives in December!

Defining Leadership 2

I recently found conference notes from a session on leadership that I attended during the Ontario Library Association's Super Conference in 2008:


Leadership is a relationship of influence between at least two people who strive toward a shared purpose and which results in meaningful and substantive change.


Schein's Organizational Culture and Leadership (394): Leaders are perpetual learners because tomorrow is different, complex, more fast paced, and culturally diverse.


Change requires learning. Leaders are the first learners and believers in new learning.

Leaders seek opportunities.

Leaders set goals: What am I going to do tomorrow to advance this outcome? In the next week/month/3 months/6 months?


I also found notes from a session on how to conduct a reference interview. As I look at them today, I see that some phrases are also useful for developing my leadership skills in team building, accountability, and coaching:

"What information seems to be missing?"

"Yes! I can help you with that!"

"I may have some ideas to help you solve your problem."
"Here are some ideas."
"What do you think of..."

Opportunities

For the past two weeks, I have been thinking about and pursuing the next step of my Emerging Leader commitment and professional development -- leadership involvement in a local or national organization.

My first lead was from a connection I made at ALA with the outgoing chair of the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT). This contact has also led me to the Editor of the EMIE Bulletin. I am currently bouncing ideas off him for a potential article.

A former YSU professor also encouraged me to pursue involvement in the Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts (OCTELA). I submitted the PLYMC project I completed in February which paired 105 picturebooks to Ohio's early learning science standards. While my handouts will not be published, the President-Elect encouraged me to submit a presentation proposal for their March 2010 Conference.

I am also working with my employer to assess my ability to attend future ALA conferences. This helps me to fill out their committee volunteer forms and gives me an idea of how I can be involved on the national level.

Overall, I am very excited about these opportunities.

Who knows what will happen next?

Leadership Development: A Personal Plan

Notes from an Emerging Leader Activity. It is encouraging to revisit my strengths as library funding declines, and I wait to see how my job will be effected.

I am strong in:

Motivation
Decision Making


I need to develop:

Team Building"What do you mean by ____?"
Create group synergy
"What is our goal?"

Accountability issues
How to get people on the same page and participate

Coaching
"How can I help you?"

Report to the Ohio Library Council

Learning: Emerging Leadership

On July 11, 2009, the Emerging Leader Team A presented our "Lift Every Voice and Read: A Personal Library for Every Child" project to the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee. Our team's journey as well as our final proposal and products can be accessed at the Emerging Leader wiki. During this process, I also kept a professional blog relating my individual experiences in the Emerging Leader program.

While our July 11 presentation may mark the end of my official status as an "Emerging Leader," it also signifies the beginning or emergence of my professional involvement.

The Emerging Leader program has given me valuable experiences in virtual committee work. It has provided me with a more solid framework of what leadership requires. Most importantly, it has shown me the value of communication, particularly through the cultivation of my networking skills.

Though I have been able to communicate successfully to serve the public in the library environment and have been equally comfortable communicating with colleagues via email and listservs, I did not feel as practiced in connecting with colleagues during a conference setting. While I have always been interested in broadening my professional network, the Emerging Leader program has given me the insight, practice, and push needed to accomplish this goal.

Since July 11, I have contacted Alan Bailey, first chair of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards newly conceived Web Committee, who had expressed interest in making our Emerging Leader project ideas a reality. I have also been in contact with various members of the American Library Association's Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table as I discover new ways to continue to be involved in the library world on a national level. Additionally, I have plans to pursue other professional opportunities and contacts made during my Emerging Leader experience.

Thank you, Ohio Library Council's Board of Directors, for supporting my Emerging Leader experience and bringing me to a new level in my professional library involvements. I greatly appreciate this opportunity and look forward to working with you in the near future!

EL Wiki Updated

Here is our group's journey.

Conference Schedule (Actual)

Italicized events are personal, sight-seeing events, not professional, conference related sessions.

Thursday, July 9
6:35 Depart from Ohio
7:20 Arrive in Chicago


Friday, July 10
8:15 - 3:00 Emerging Leaders Meeting
3:00 - 5:00 Emerging Leaders Poster Session
5:00 - 7:30 Chicago Institute of Art: Saw children's picturebook original illustrations!


Saturday, July 11
8:00 – 10:00 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee/Subcommittee Meetings
10:30 – 12:00 Cuentos de las Americas: Celebrating Latino Cultures and Dia with Recent Outstanding Latino Children’s Books
1:30 – 3:00 Emerging Leaders Salon
3:30 – 5:30 USBBY/YALSA present “Mixing It Up: The Process of Bringing International Children’s Books to the US”
8:00 – 10:00 Stories for a Saturday Evening with Storytellers Tim Tingle and Dovie Thomason


Sunday, July 12
9:00 – 2:00 Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Tour
2:00 - 3:00 What Makes Tango So Scary? Serving Your Whole Library Population, Intellectual Freedom, and Censorship of LGBT Children’s Books
3:30 - 5:30 Using Historic Children’s Literature to Motivate Children to Read: Highlights from 15 Years of the Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship Award


Monday, July 13
8:00 - 9:30 ALSC President’s Program featuring Melba Pattillo Beals
9:45 – 11:00 Volunteer at ALSC Booth
11:00 - 12:30 Explore Exhibits
1:30 – 3:00 State Academic Standards + Library Programs = Educationally Enhanced Children’s Programs
3:30 – 5:30 Odyssey Award Presentation and Program
5:30 – 6:00 Our Children Can Soar: Picturebook Art Exhibit and Reception


Tuesday, July 14

6:00 – 7:00 Volunteer greeter
7:00 - 9:00 Coretta Scott King 40th Anniversary Breakfast
2:16 Depart Chicago

Poster Session Publicity

Our group met Diane Chen, a current member of the ALA Executive Board, during the Emerging Leader poster session on Friday, July 10.

I just got word via the EL listserv that she has uploaded pictures of the posters on Flickr.

She also wrote a post on her blog at libraryjournal.com where pictures from our team are highlighted!

What I Have Learned

What I have learned during this project:

1) Communication is extremely important in team work.
From start to finish, all members work to be on the same page and maintain a unified vision. Communicating (about meetings or project ideas) as well as fixing mis-communications is time consuming, but vital. It is valuable for all team members and mentors to be part of these constant, even daily, communications as much as possible.

2) Flexibility is a key ingredient in team work.
It is inevitable that in the course of communication changes in vision and team approach will take place.

3) Virtual project groups are possible and can even be successful.
After initial agreement upon a virtual work space and communication system (which may be made quicker through the availability of ALA Connect), work can be successful during virtual meetings. While email communication can be easy to lose track of (when inbox amounts and other responsibilities are high), the team project can still be communicated and carried on between available members. An email trail allows current communication to be visible to the entire team and can be referred to as needed.


While the first two points are ones I was already aware of, my involvement in the Emerging Leaders has allowed me to transfer that knowledge to another type of experience. It has also underlined the importance of these two concepts.

Annual Conference Schedule (Planned)

Italicized events are personal, sight-seeing events, not professional, Conference related sessions.

Thursday, July 9
Depart from Ohio at 6:45 p.m.
Arrive in Chicago at 7:20 p.m.

Friday, July 10
8:30 - 3:00 Emerging Leaders Meeting
3:00 - 5:00 Emerging Leaders Poster Session
5:00 - 9:00 Free admission to Chicago Institute of Art

Saturday, July 11
8:00 – 10:00 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee/Subcommittee Meetings
10:30 – 12:00 Cuentos de las Americas: Celebrating Latino Cultures and Dia with Recent Outstanding Latino Children’s Books
1:30 – 3:00 Emerging Leaders Salon
3:30 – 5:30 USBBY/YALSA present “Mixing It Up: The Process of Bringing International Children’s Books to the US”
8:00 – 10:00 Stories for a Saturday Evening with Storytellers Tim Tingle.Dovie Thomason

Sunday, July 12
9:00 – 2:00 Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Tour
3:30 - 5:30 Using Historic Children’s Literature to Motivate Children to Read: Highlights from 15 Years of the Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship Award

Monday, July 13
8:00 - 9:30 ALSC President’s Program featuring Melba Pattillo Beals
9:45 – 11:45 Volunteer at ALSC Booth
1:30 – 3:00 State Academic Standards + Library Programs = Educationally Enhanced Children’s Programs
3:30 – 5:30 Odyssey Award Presentation and Program
5:30 – 7:30 Our Children Can Soar

Tuesday, July 14
6:30 – 9:00 Final Emerging Leader Task – Attend the Coretta Scott King 40th Anniversary Breakfast
Depart Chicago at 2:16

Call to Action -- Save Our Libraries

Governor Strickland’s proposed budget cuts will reduce library funding by 50 percent. This severe cut would devastate our Mahoning County library system, as well as libraries throughout Ohio.

Libraries will be forced to close.

Please consider calling or emailing the Governor and your legislators to urge them to keep library funding strong. Let them know libraries are essential!
Use the information below or email them using our handy web form at http://www.libraryvisit.org/budget.cfm


The budget will be decided by June 30. Immediate action is required. Names, phone numbers and email addresses are listed below. Also, you can visit our website, libraryvisit.org, for a one-click form to email legislators.

Thank you for your support.

Governor Ted Strickland(614) 466-3555
State Rep. Mark D. Okey - 61st District(614) 466-1464Email: district61@ohr.state.oh.us

State Rep. Robert F. Hagan -60th District(614) 466-9435Email: district60@ohr.state.oh.us

State Rep. Ronald V. Gerberry - 59th DistrictPhone: (614) 466-6107Email: district59@ohr.state.oh.us

Ohio Senator Joseph Schiavoni - 33rd DistrictPhone: 614/466-8285Email: sd33@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Conference Committee for Budget Bill
Rep. Vernon Sykes district44@ohr.state.oh.us
Rep. Jay P. Goyal district73@ohr.state.oh.us
Rep. Ron Amstutz district03@ohr.state.oh.us
Sen. Dale Miller SD23@maild.sen.state.oh.us
Sen. John Carey SD17@senate.state.oh.us
Sen. Mark Wagoner SD02@senate.state.oh.us

Ohio Budget Cuts

I have just heard Governor Strickland's proposed budget cuts, and their unfathomable impact on Ohio libraries, including those in Mahoning County.

http://www.libraryvisit.org/

Please look at the news release link at the bottom left of the page for further explanation.

Please pass on this information.

Bookmark for February -- Coretta Scott King Author/Illustrator

A second team member created another example of the monthly themed, bookmark idea. This one is for February, the month the team suggested highlighting the Coretta Scott King authors and illustrators themselves.

(Front: One of the author or illustrator's titles briefly described.)

(Back: A brief bio of the chosen author or illustrator.)

Bookmark for May -- Family Theme

This bookmark visual was completed by a fellow team member. It is one example of our monthly themes, bookmark idea. Creating a themed bookmark for each month markets the Coretta Scott King Winners and Honorees as books that can be chosen, used, and bought throughout the year and for any age level.

(Front: Age appropriate title suggestions for Infants/Toddlers/Preschoolers, Pre-K and Kindergarteners, First and Second Graders, Third and Fourth Graders, and Fifth and Sixth Graders based on our team's chosen May theme of "Family.")

(Back: Age appropriate suggestions for Teens and Young Adults

based on our team's chosen May theme of "Family.")

Other Created Content

In June, I will display the content headed by other team members.

Post Card Final

(Front: Image adapted from Kadir Nelson's original artwork available for purchase at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=kadir%20nelson )

(Back of version 1)

(Back of version 2)

Greeting Card Final

(Front: Image adapted from Kadir Nelson's original artwork available for purchase at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=kadir%20nelson )

(Middle)

(Back: The Coretta Scott King Award Seal would be placed in the space held by the black square. These award seals are available for purchase at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=Coretta%20Scott%20King%20Award%20seals )

Greeting and Post Card Front Under Development

(Image adapted from Kadir Nelson's original artwork available for purchase at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=kadir%20nelson )

Greeting Card Beginnings

One of the first greeting card drafts ...

(Front: Image is Kadir Nelson's original artwork available for purchase at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=kadir%20nelson )

(Back: The Coretta Scott King Honor, Award, and John Steptoe seals would be placed where the black squares are. These seals can be purchased at: http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=Coretta%20Scott%20King%20Award%20seals )

Nearing the End

In the past few weeks, the King's Advocates have been organizing our final product.

The greeting card and post card images have settled on a more sophisticated look. With encouragement and vision from individual team members, I took Kadir's "Lift Every Voice and Read" image and modified the colors to sepia tones. This allowed me to place the CSK website information over the image in a way that would be visible. I will insert these final images in a separate post.

Two of the team members have been compiling our created content and recommendations into a final proposal that we can electronically submit to the Coretta Scott King Committee ... in ten days! Yesterday and today, the rest of the team has had time to look over the draft and submit revisions.

The written proposal is looking phenomenal. It includes the original project description, briefly introduces each project team member, introduces our overall interpretation of the project, and then launches into the content we have created, accompanied by our rationale for each created piece. We also have a section of general recommendations.

We are also working with our mentors to have ALA print our "mock-ups" of our created content and give us a cost estimation for the printed materials.

Everything is coming together!

Dumbledore Defines Leadership

I know I'm a little behind on this, but I just finished the Harry Potter series!

Look what I found:

"It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their surprise that they wear it well."

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (719)

Reminds me of a conversation I had the other day with one of my mentors ... how one doesn't always choose to be a leader but how one is chosen by others to lead ...

Finishing Individual Assignments

The entire team was able to meet yesterday, April 28. I have made the meeting notes available on our wiki.

Overall, most of our individual tasks are completed or in the final stages of editing. Now we are preparing for our final presentations -- the Emerging Leader Poster Session on July 10 and a final proposal document for the Coretta Scott King Book Awards committee due June 1.

Individually, I will be working on modifying the (front) design of the postcards. A team member found a CSK design (image/font) that the committee has already used: http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/emiert/cskbookawards/docs/cskba-slj-ad.pdf

It is good to be consistent and to work with what is already available.

Post Card Draft 3

Home Library Webpage Proposal Draft

HOME LIBRARY WEBPAGE
We propose the creation of a "Home Library" webpage to market the idea of purchasing CSK books for home libraries.

We propose that the webpage have its own, unique URL that can be included on marketing materials, such as the greeting card and postcard examples detailed below. In our materials, we have used the URL: www.ala.org/csk/homelibraries.

The webpage should suggest the reasons why purchasing a CSK book for a home library is important or fun, assist site visitors with the purchase, and offer supportive material.

The reasons to purchase CSK books could form the main text of this new web page. We propose something like the following:

"Given as gifts, the Coretta Scott King (CSK) Award Winners and Honorees not only help mark special occasions in the lives of youth, such as birthdays, graduations, and a variety of special accomplishments (e.g. in sports, academics, music), they also help strengthen the youth's sense of self, vocabulary, and awareness of the roles African Americans have played in personal and real histories. Though these books express the stories of African American lifestyles, they can help all readers navigative familiar or everyday issues.

Help create or build a youth's personal library by giving a Coretta Scott King book. Your gift will help the youth safely explore the world, yet find themselves."

Accompanying this text would be links (with brief summaries) that assist the site visitor with his/her purchase:

"For Children and Teens -- How to Build Your Own CSK Library": A list of suggestions for children and teens on how to start their own collection. For example:
Ask parents, relatives, and friends to give you CSK awards books for gifts.
If you get an allowance, save it.
If you don’t get an allowance, consider ways that you can earn extra money like mowing a neighbor’s lawn, babysitting, or washing windows for someone.
"Pick the Right CSK Book" = Find a CSK book that matches the recipient's age level and subject interest (Link to our Team's bibliographies that are divided by subject then age)

"Where to Purchase a CSK Book" = a section of links of where to purchase the CSK books online (e.g. http://mail.libraryvisit.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com / http://www.bookweb.org/index.html)

"Get the Book Signed by the Author or Illustrator" = a link to another new page on the CSK website that lists conferences/events where CSK winners/honors authors and illustrators may be presenting and/or signing books

"Add a CSK Greeting Card to Your Gift" = a link to purchase a paper greeting card, a link to download a greeting card (free), and a link to send an electronic greeting card (free) (See example 1.)

SUPPORTING GREETING CARD (example 1)
We have created an example of the greeting card that could be produced in hard copy, as a download, and as an e-card) that would support the giving of CSK books for home libraries.

In our example, the already approved, Kadir Nelson image of diverse children singing that is accompanied by the Coretta Scott King slogan "Lift Every Voice and Read" (http://mail.libraryvisit.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=2440) was used as the cover image while images of the Winner, Honor, and Steptoe Medal are shown in the inside.

Text for the greeting card could be a standard message such as "I Appreciate You" or "You Are Talented" to reflect the message of the CSK books (and Steptoe Award) onto the child.

The general CSK website (www.ala.org/csk) or Home Libraries emphasized website ( www.ala.org/csk/homelibraries ) could be listed on the back of the card to drive further traffic toward the site.

SUPPORTING POSTCARD (example 2)
To further support the Home Library webpage, we have also created a postcard that can be sent out nationally to homes. (See example.)

In our example, we again used the already approved, Kadir Nelson image of diverse children singing that is accompanied by the Coretta Scott King slogan "Lift Every Voice and Read" (http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=2440) as the cover image.

The text focuses on the 2009 Winners/Honorees and directs the recipient to the Home Libraries webpage.

This postcard would not only increase general awareness of the award but also direct the receiver to the proposed Home Library webpage, again to encourage him/her to purchase one for their own or someone else's home library.

Post Card Draft 2

Why not post the first draft, you ask?

The first draft was just my own and first attempts to complete the task. This second draft incorporates some team feedback and my new ideas from that feedback. I am excited to hear what the other team members suggest!

I also have a first draft of the greeting card but will wait for more feedback before I post an image.

I am using Microsoft Publisher to create these mock-ups. The blue and pink lines and text boxes you see above will not appear in the printed versions.

Final Individual Assignments

Though not all team members were able to attend the group meeting on Wednesday, April 8, we were productive. Individually, I also felt productive. I was able to post the meeting minutes to our wiki that same night!

This successful day allowed me to put this EL Project on the back burner for a few days and focus on my other professional commitments. However, a few days have now turned into a week, and I need to start thinking and working on my newly assigned individual tasks:

Text and Mock-Up: Postcards with “Lift Every Voice” slogan and Kadir Nelson illustration on the front and brief CSK information/website (see brochure idea) on the back to be sent out nationally to market the award

Mock-Up (text is done): Creation of a new webpage (text) and CSK “celebration card” to encourage the purchasing of CSK books for gifts/home libraries

It is amazing how less daunting our entire project seems when divided among team members.

I am also now fulfilling the duty of scheduling the group meetings via Doodle. I need to do that ASAP ...

Well, Doodle is experiencing system failure right now, so I'll try again tomorrow.

Steady Progress

My team continues to make steady progress as we approach our individual tasks, seek each others' advice, and share ideas.

I feel as if we are close to the mid-way mark in developing or completing all of the following ideas:

Bibliographies of the CSK books divided by age
Creation of CSK PSA announcement
CSK Book Club
CSK Greeting Card coupled with marketing of giving of CSK books as gifts
Survey to those who are aware of/using the CSK books

We have another meeting scheduled for tomorrow. We can begin to work out the last kinks as well as start talking about how we want to present these ideas to the CSK committee as well as our Emerging Leader peers during our poster session.

Onward and Upward

Now that our team has a clear vision of our goal, it seems like the biggest challenge has been successfully completed. Of course, I am talking from my own perspective, so perhaps what I should be saying is ... Now that I have a better vision of the goal, I feel more confident about my contributions.

I spent several hours this evening drafting one of the team's ideas and am looking forward to how all the ideas will be fitting together.

In other news, I had an enlightening conversation about leadership two nights ago. In talking with my parents, I came to realize that in my past leadership or group experiences in organizations, I have never had the opportunity to work on such a focused task -- concentrating on one vision over a substantial period of time.

Additionally, I gained a less self-centered perspective on the circumstances that bring a certain individual into a leadership position than those first explored in my December post entitled "What Makes Some People Leaders and Others Not?" Watching movies like Milk and W has also given me a background to think and talk about this issue.

Overall, I am learning from and grateful for the experience that the American Library Association Emerging Leader program is providing for me.

We're Done with Our Project!

April Fools ... ;)

Fresh Breath

Whew!

I am feeling even better than at the end of my last post ... as I knew I would as my group continued to communicate and as we continued to receive guidance from our mentors.

The team (plus our mentor :) ) met today via Skype. Besides for a rocky start on my end (with my microphone "not working") and too many ideas than we had time to discuss, all went very well!

I have already posted the minutes to our wiki.

You will see that the audience and goal are indeed changed from what I interpreted in my last entry:

Audience: youth, parents, and families
Goal: to have the audience consider award-winning Coretta Scott King titles as purchases to populate children's home libraries

Our tasks now also support our new goal.

We still have a few team decisions to make in order to flesh out some of the new ideas, but overall, all of us now have the same vision.

This team excercise and overall experience definitely support the definition of leadership (idea of "vision") that I first blogged about on January 1 ...

Re-Evaluation

I devoted much of my time today re-evaluating our project description.

Overall, the biggest change that has occurred is in our audience and goal.

Jan 23 Meeting Notes
Goal: To increase awareness and inspire use of CSK
Audience: School (Classroom teachers, Media specialists), Public (Special services, Child detention centers), Academic (English Department = Professors of lit, Professors of children/teen lit; Education Department = Early childhood education teachers, Middle, High School), Library Schools

Mar 21 Project Description Evaluation
Audience: African American youth, parents and families
Goal: to have the audience consider award-winning Coretta Scott King titles as purchases to populate children's home libraries.

I am looking forward to hearing my team members' interpretations.

Today I also made many updates to our wiki. I added a timeline, our group name, our resource list, meeting notes from March 6 and 17, and our librarian/educator survey. I updated the "Group Communication" section.

I am feeling better.

Frustration

All continues to be busy in my professional and personal life, and I feel even more busy since I was not at work at all last week.

As far as the Emerging Leader portion of my professional life is concerned, I am frustrated. I am guessing that many or all of my other team members are also frustrated.

Recent feedback from our mentors shows that our team is not on target. Here we are on March 19, and we seem to have come no further than when we started on January 23. We don't seem to have the correct goal in mind.

I believe that our team (self-titled "The King's Advocates") has great ideas, action plans, and networks/connections that tackle most of the aspects of our project description. However, it is challenging to determine where our ideas actually fit in the Coretta Scott King (CSK) committee's already in process, related projects. For example, in January we were told that a marketing firm had already been hired and was preparing for the July 40th Anniversary celebration of CSK.

I am confused and frustrated.

As I just re-read our project description, especially the title "Lift Every Voice and Read: A Personal Library for Every Child," I can see part of the reason why the teams' and mentors' vision may now be clashing. What we all discussed in January and have been moving toward since then is different from the written project description.

The Next Step
Each member of the team will again be looking individually at each task in the project description and will create or modify action plans for each task.

I am hopeful that this exercise as well as continued direction from our mentors will bridge the gap in our visions.

Focus

Trying to get back on track with my project group, I finally posted our February 17 meeting notes to our wiki project page.

I think we have the right ideas and are covering a decent amount of ground with the following tasks. Now I just need to devote some individual time to my pieces of the puzzle:

Creating ready-to-use library programs involving CSK books (Hayley)
I am thinking that I will create a program for each of the following audiences: four and five year olds, families, grades K-3, and grades 4-6.

Creating bibliographies pertinent to each month (Hayley, Marissa, and Lana)
I will look at Chase's Calendar of Events, the themes I personally use each month, and the themes requested by teachers here at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County in order to align different CSK books to each month.

Creating a contact list of organizations and institutions who will be interested in receiving the above information/toolkit (Hayley)
After Sarah, sends her survey, I will have some listservs, but I plan to spend most of my time collecting the information from organizations I already know about as well as (e.g.) talking to some of the college professors across the street at Youngstown State University to find other appropriate organizations.

Just the other day over lunch, a professor reminded me of a potential interested organization in the Ohio Council of Teachers of Language Arts. Now that I am writing this, I wonder if there is a similiar organization in each state ... and this type of organization is only contacting (some) English Language Arts teachers ...

I have not yet begun to work!

Busi-ness

It's already the month of March ... Time seems to be moving faster now than it did last year at this time ...

One project that I just completed and wasn't involved with last year was preparing a presentation for local MYCAP Head Start teachers. I correlated 100 (preschool appropriate) picturebooks and some extension activities to the (Ohio) Science Early Learning Content Standards.

This was supplemented by a bibliography of print, online, and audio, science resources. During my presentation, I also made a point to highlight some different storytelling/presentation techniques of the selected picturebooks. For example, I presented a singing technique, magnet/memorized technique, using rhythm sticks technique, and audience participation/dramatization technique. Additionally, I made a point to explain how the pre-reading skills could be emphasized in the presented picturebooks.

While it was an intense project that diverted my focus and time away from my Emerging Leader (EL) involvement, I found it extremely enjoyable and educational. I have a new perspective on children's literature and programming, better knowledge of the collection here at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, and a more intense desire to work with children.

It is interesting to note that our EL group has discussed the use of such resources (e.g. bibliographies by development/age, extension activities, collection of related resources) in our own marketing of the Coretta Scott King Awards.

This experience will no doubt play into my work on our EL project.

Excitement

Hooray!

My project team was able to successfully meet yesterday!

After a morning of scrambling to come up with an internet voice chat program other than the previously picked Google Talk (which couldn't accomodate all of us talking together at once), we used Skype.

The program itself was user friendly, and with help from the Information Services department here at PLYMC, I had a microphone to use. (Thank you, IS!) With help and understanding from my supervisor, I was able to get the hour off desk when my other team members could meet. (Thank you!) Talk about teamwork!

To know that groups can actually meet like this and work on projects and AT NO COST is amazing ... I wonder what would happen if this was used by more groups and more people throughout the world ...

The session itself was awesome! We now have tasks assigned to each person as well as a better grasp of our goals as a project team.

I feel like we (or I... ;) ) finally know what we're doing.

We are on our way!

Getting Virtually Organized, Virtually

Working virtually does indeed have its own set of challenges (such as coordinating real time conversations, evaluating technology choices, and configurings those choices)

but also offers its own excitement (such as coordinating real time conversations, evaluating technology choices, and configuring those choices) ...

In the past two weeks or so, the group (composed of individuals living across the United States) has:

found a time (via Doodle) to meet for a Google Talk
created a working project space via Google Groups

We are now compiling our project notes from Mid-Winter, individually reviewing our project goal, and individually honing our ideas.

In my team, I also have the role to compile our notes on our project page of the Emerging Leader Wiki.

Check out my latest work there!

Maureen Sullivan on Leadership

Learn by Doing
1) Recognize opportunities
2) Learn about the ALA structure
3) Learn from other colleagues, mentors, and leaders
4) Network

Leadership Challenge
Are leaders born or made?

5 Leadership Practices
1) Challenge the process
--- question, suggest, think (and encourage others to think), innovate (application of ideas)
--- e.g. "I have a different approach (pause to gain attention) ..."
--- e.g. "It seems to me that we have a lot of work ... and not everyone is contributing ..."
--- effective strategies of persuasion = use research of the innovation in organizations, concentrate on how it will benefit the patron, provide support plan during change to combat fear of change

2) Inspire shared vision
--- become a futurist, clarify own vision as well as have others communicate clearly, engage/listen to others' ideas, speak positively and from the heart
--- Ron Heifeitz: become skillful at asking questions
--- if all else fails, have the courage to leave

3) Enable others to act
--- relationships are investments and are built on trust so be authentic, value other people and their contributions, involve others in meaningful activities

4) Model the way
--- actions coincide with principles and values so be mindful of actions and their effects
--- see Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

5) Encourage the love
--- recognize others actions, especially with tangible tokens
--- e.g. "Thank you for ..."

All people are "member-leaders" so all are collaborators.

Leslie Burger on Leadership (in ALA)

"Emerging Leaders began in 2007 as one of ALA Immediate Past President Leslie Burger’s six initiatives." (Emerging Leaders Wiki)

Here are some of my notes from her welcoming speech on Friday of Mid-Winter.

To be a leader:
1) Ask questions. "Why do we do it this way?"
2) Do something you think is valuable to do, not just because it will add to your resume.
3) Be bold. Express new ideas even to the "old guys."
4) Be collaborative. Listen and find common ground.
5) Be flexible.
6) Take a break when you need it.
7) Bend the rules. Apologize later.
8) Network.
9) Have a good time. Go to some of the Conference parties!
10) Create change if something doesn't work.

As far as further understanding the organization of ALA, Burger strongly stressed consulting the ALA Handbook of Organization.

Mid-Winter Conference Schedule (Actual)

Thursday, January 22: Depart Aurora, Ohio at 8:00 AM. Arrive safely at the Denver Marriot City Center Hotel at around 3:30 PM. Greeted by roommates. Walk 16th Street "Mall." Visit the Tattered Cover (new) Book Store and eat dinner. Attend EL Reception from 10 - 10:45 PM. (Felt a little sick/strange so left the reception early.)

Friday, January 23: EL Workshop from 8:30 - 5:30. Smart Investing @ Your Library grantee reception from 6 - 7:00 PM. EL Team A reception with mentor Satia Orange until 8:00 PM.

Saturday, January 24: Coretta Scott King Award Committee meeting from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. Looked through half of the Exhibition Hall. Lunch. EL Town Meeting from 1:30 - 3:30. Finish exploring the Exhibition at 5:00 PM. Spend the evening with my Denver cousin and his girlfriend driving to see the mountains and, eventually, have dinner at Beau Jo's in Idaho Springs.

Sunday, January 25: YALSA's Amazing Audiobooks meeting from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Visited Denver Art Museum and peeked in the window of the Denver Public Library. Preschool Discussion Group on incorporating non-fiction books in "story programs" from 4:00 to 5:30. Explore Larimer Square.

Monday, January 26: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration from 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM. Travel home.

Details and notes to follow ...

Location

I've now gathered some information on Denver's transportation systems and local attractions (with many thanks to the links organized on the ALA Midwinter Wiki) as well as this week's upcoming weather and the every day health considerations of being a mile above sea level.

I feel prepared, but I know that the challenge is in putting all the information together once I get there. I remind myself what I learned while traveling and studying abroad in the summer of 2007: I can only take one step at a time in order to reach each destination.

First EL Assignment

In order to prepare for an activity during the EL Town Meeting on Saturday, January 24, we have been asked to read Business Week, 2/4/08 p 88 (ISSN 0007-7135), and "highlight three sentences that resonate with you."

I was pleased to read this article because it provides more insight into this blog's posed question, "What is leadership?"

Below I have copied the three phrases that resonate with me. Beside each phrase I have also written a keyword, two of which ("vision" and "execution") are actually named in the article:

Vision: "... a clearly conceived, inspirational mission is critical for real progress."

Education/Learning: "... Every time you fail, you get back -- wiser ..."

Execution: "... promises get kept and plans get completed ..."


It is interesting to reflect on my January 1, 2009 post entitled "Leadership Defined: My View" and see (in only 12 days) how my definition may have already changed. In that post, I also addressed three components of leadership. They were Commitment to an Idea, Marketing, and Open-ness.

Let's see how what I discovered then compares with my discovery above.

In my Commitment to an Idea, I actually used the word "vision." However, I lumped it together with the (article's) idea of execution without giving it proper elaboration. In my thoughts, I didn't come to the necessary and clear wording " ... plans get completed..." that this article captures.

In the article, the paragraph on vision also refers to inspiration which I included (and expanded) in my Marketing paragraph as I covered the idea of communication and interaction with others. Here, too, would be an excellent place to detail the execution in interpersonal relationships and say "... promises get kept ..."

The article's paragraph about resilience says that " ... Every time you fail, you get back -- wiser ..." I have keyworded the phrase as "Education/Learning" instead of "resilience." This keyword allows the phrase to supplement my Open-ness paragraph. In that original paragraph, I should include the statement that a leader needs to be open to mistakes by accepting and learning from them.

Overall, I am still pleased with my previous definitions, but today's information allows me to add more detail and better understand my original definitions.

Mid-Winter Conference Schedule (Planned)

The Mid-winter Conference is less than two weeks away!

Here is my schedule so far:

Thursday, January 22: Arrive in Denver in the afternoon. Meet up with roommates. Find hotel and explore local attractions before EL Reception from 10 - 11:30 PM.

Friday, January 23: EL Workshop from 8:30 - 5:30. Smart Investing @ Your Library grantee ( http://www.libraryvisit.org/smartmoney.htm ) reception from 6 - 7:30.

Saturday, January 24: EL Town Meeting from 1:30 - 3:30. Project A Team meeting to be scheduled. Explore the Exhibition area.

Sunday, January 25: Preschool Discussion Group on incorporating non-fiction books in "story programs" at 4:00. Explore local attractions.

Monday, January 26: Travel home.

I suspect that other responsibilities and opportunities will arise and am as much excited about the possibilities as I am with the schedule.

My greatest concern is the traveling between events -- finding out where the events are located as well as the most visitor friendly (and cheapest) transportation to these locations.

I need to consult a map and become more familiar with the public transportation system before I leave.

Leadership Defined: My View Visualized

This "word cloud" was created on http://www.wordle.net/ using the text from yesterday's post.

It is interesting to compare my visual representation of the definition of leadership to that of the compiled comments from others.

Leadership Defined: My View

After reflecting on the thoughts of those professionals who have chosen to comment in this blog as well as looking at my labels for each of my posts, I have come to determine two fundamental qualities in a leader.

The first and most important quality is the leader's commitment to an idea ... a vision ... a goal ... a solution ... a resolution. As I think about historical leaders and continue to read Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins, I see the power and effects of one's ideas on one's manifestations. According to Robbins, if we wish to commit ourselves to a different outcome, we are required to analyze our current beliefs and their emotional connections. After such introspection, we will need to develop support ... new ideas and new emotional connections to these ideas in order to bring vision into reality. I will add to that thought the need for a leader to re-evaluate the support or action during the manifestation process.

In other words, a leader must actively and consistently undergo total evaluation (of one's self as well as the situation) to determine ideas (visions or goals) and commit to a focus (action and outcome).

The second key component of leadership is marketing. I use the term marketing to capture the idea of clear and meaningful communication through unique and specific means. In other words, a leader needs to be able to express his/her vision and interact with a diverse audience. He or she should understand various learning styles and modes of explanation (visual as well as verbal) in order to communicate effectively. Additionally, a leader needs to be sensitive to his/her audience by consistently listening to their ideas and recognizing individuals.

The beautiful and amazing part of a successful leader's marketing (communicating a vision) is the process of correspondence or friendly discussion with others which molds the vision as well as makes it a reality.

A key ingredient within each of these qualities, is the need for a leader to be open ... open to a change in personal thought ... open to trying different strategies ... open to incorporating others' ideas ... open to the sometimes timely and serendipitous moments ... open to traveling, to learning, and to experiencing different ideas ...


At the end of this year, I will again reflect on the labels of my accumulated posts and will re-evaluate today's conclusions.

Leadership Defined: Others' Views Visualized

This "word cloud" was created on http://www.wordle.net/ using the comments to my November 25, 2008 post entitled "Defining Leadership."

According to the site, "The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text."

Voila! We have a visual representation of the definition of leadership that highlights the most prominent descriptors.

If I receive further participation in this discussion, I plan to recreate this visual representation of leadership on July 1, 2009.