I recently attended South Central Regional Library Council’s Annual Meeting which featured a presentation from Dr. Loriene Roy, a professor at the School of Information at the University of Texas at Austin. Her presentation was entitled, Answering the Call for Leadership.
Portions of Dr. Roy’s presentation were based on a book by former ALA president Brook Sheldon:
Sheldon, Brooke. Interpersonal Skills, Theory, and Practice: The Librarian’s Guide to Becoming a Leader. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, 2010.
Sheldon lists the following as traits of a library leader:
- Vision
- Commitment to Public Libraries
- Courage and Risk Taking
- Openness to Others
- Political Savvy
- Professional Involvement
Dr. Roy solicited feedback from the audience on personal values, professional values, defining leadership, and personal goals.
What makes a good leader? Please share your insights.
