2017-2018 Spectrum Scholars Carli V. Lowe and Darnetta Bolton

Spectrum’s Significance

June 27, 2018

The Spectrum Leadership Institute is a a three-day experience that highlights cross-cultural models of leadership and features national library and community leaders. It is open to participants in the ALA Spectrum Scholarship Program, which actively recruits and provides scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander students to … Continue reading Spectrum’s Significance


Annie Lewis (left), librarian at Multnomah County (Oreg.) Library, listens as Nancy Herrera, librarian at Contra Costa County (Calif.) Library, makes her presentation at the 2016 ALA Leadership Institute in Itasca, Illinois. The institute—developed and led by former ALA President Maureen Sullivan (2012–2013)—offers midcareer librarians the opportunity to take part in a four-day immersive leadership development program.

Leading to the Future

March 1, 2017

The goal, says former ALA President Maureen Sullivan, is to introduce theories, concepts, and practices for effective leadership and “help people develop self-awareness of their strengths and areas for development.” Sullivan, who developed and leads the institute with library consultant Kathryn Deiss, says the institute accomplishes this goal with a mixture of presentations, small group … Continue reading Leading to the Future


After a morning session on interpersonal competence, participants were split into groups, with one person from each group selected to present a case study from their experience. Annie Lewis (left), librarian at Multnomah County (Oreg.) Library, listens as Nancy Herrera, librarian at Contra Costa County (Calif.) Library, makes her presentation.

2016 ALA Leadership Institute Convenes

August 12, 2016 Carrie Betts, information and technology specialist at West Bloomfield (Mich.) School District, presents her case to the group. Renee Grassi, youth department director at Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Public Library, listens during the morning case study session. After a morning session on interpersonal competence, participants were split into groups, with one person from each group selected … Continue reading 2016 ALA Leadership Institute Convenes

2015 ALA Leadership Institute participants.

2015 ALA Leadership Institute

August 13, 2015

Each year, a committee (which includes Library Leadership and Management Association leaders but not Sullivan or Deiss) reviews applications to choose a diverse mix of participants based on type of library (public, academic, school, special, etc.), organizational responsibility, geography, gender, and race/ethnicity. About twice as many librarians apply as are selected, according to Sullivan. This selective … Continue reading 2015 ALA Leadership Institute