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Picture Yourself as a Library Leader
By Anna Yackle, NSLS
December 1, 2006
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Many individuals dream about what they would do if they were in charge of the library. With vision, determination, and training provided by the NSLS Leadership Academy, you can make your dream a reality.

To help you achieve this goal, NSLS joins the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) in the shared goal of providing librarians with the instruction, vision, and credentials needed to be leaders in the 21st century.

September 7, 2006 saw the first steps toward this objective with approximately 15 to 20 individuals participating in the first session of one or both of two multi-week classes offered through the NSLS Leadership Academy. The two online classes, Organization and Personnel Management and Politics and Networking, were approved as courses toward accreditation for the Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) program. The CPLA program is a voluntary post-MLS certification credential sponsored and administered by the ALA-APA.

Don't Just Take Our Word For It; Read What Our Members Are Saying

NSLS is committed to this project and plans to provide all of the classes necessary for you to complete the certification process. We are proud of the courses we have designed. Judging by these comments, the participants find the classes challenging and thought-provoking.

“It's wonderful that ALA-APA is offering certification courses specifically for librarians. Even though I've been in library administration for twenty years, Mary Jordan's Organization and Personnel Management class offered through NSLS has been very useful to me. I learned some new things plus the course made all the knowledge I've gained piecemeal over the years more cohesive. I especially learned from my colleagues' experiences and thoughts. Libraries are all about sharing knowledge and this is a great way to do exactly that.”

- Roberta Thomas, Director, Grayslake Public Library District

“Technology has been the rose and the thorn for today's librarians. With the CPLA on-line courses, it's finally become the tool to make it possible for us to take the kind of classes that we didn't always get in library school.”

- Jane Halsall, Author and Head of Young People's Services, McHenry Public Library District

What the Leadership Academy Offers You

Join these individuals and other participants in seizing this opportunity to take these online courses , increase your professional knowledge, and advance your career. Selecting the NSLS Leadership Academy as your course provider couldn't be a clearer or easier choice. The Leadership Academy offers:

• Quality. Our instructors draw on their own extensive backgrounds to bring you the best of both the practical and academic approaches to leadership.
• Convenience. This program is designed with working professionals in mind, allowing you to participate in the classes from your work or home.
• Affordability. At $225 for 12 contact hours of instruction, these courses provide real value for your dollar.
• Vision. NSLS is committed to providing instruction that will help you lead your library both now and in the future.

Spring Term (January 9 - April 29, 2007) Courses

Our spring term is quickly approaching. Don't miss out on taking advantage of these great courses.

• Management of Technology
• Marketing

NSLS knows you are a potential leader. Even if you decide not to participate in the certification process, these courses are well worth the investment. Please contact Donna Tieberg with further questions or help with registering.

About the Author

Anna Yackle is the public library liaison at the North Suburban Library System.

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