Joseph Janes

Leading from All Sides

April 8, 2014

I’m in a meeting as I write this. (It happens; don’t tell anybody I work with, okay?) Don’t get the wrong idea … all of our meetings are vital and gripping, and everybody looks forward to them. Just like yours, right? In all seriousness, though, as I sit here, I’m struck by the various roles … Continue reading Leading from All Sides


Emerging Leaders

April 2, 2014

These are the American Library Association’s Emerging Leaders of 2014. Initiated in 1997 as a one-year program under former ALA President Mary R. Somerville and revived in 2006 under former ALA President Leslie Burger, the Emerging Leaders program recognizes the best and brightest new leaders in our industry. It’s open to librarians under 35 years … Continue reading Emerging Leaders


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The Toxic Middle

October 7, 2013

Wasn’t it considerate of the folks in Chicago to arrange for that unexpected (and most welcome) stretch of lovely, clement weather? I was steeling myself for the typical onslaught, packing the sweater for icily over-air-conditioned meeting rooms, only to be greeted by blue skies and 70 degrees. And a couple million hockey fans. So I’m … Continue reading The Toxic Middle


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Leading By Example: Emerging Leaders

September 13, 2011

Newcomers to the profession are getting a boost toward leadership, thanks to ALA’s Emerging Leaders program. Emerging Leaders aims to put participants on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership by offering learning, networking, and volunteer opportunities. The program, which was launched in 2007 as one of Leslie Burger’s presidential initiatives, is limited to … Continue reading Leading By Example: Emerging Leaders


2011 Emerging Leaders

September 13, 2011

Members of ALA’s 2011 class of Emerging Leaders discuss their projects, including video game collection development, promoting Preservation Week, a survey of Money Smart Week, a visual tool of ALA deadlines, Librarians Build Communities, and usability issues in library web sites.