Sarah Wessel: Frank B. Sessa Scholarship

My initial plan was divided into three sections: a reading program focused on management literature, attendance at a leadership seminar, and visits with technical services librarians at other academic institutions. One of my first actions was to attend a workflow analysis workshop sponsored by my local consortium (CARLI). Rick Lugg and Matt Barnes of R2 Consulting discussed ways of creating capacity in libraries, specifically areas within Technical Services. The idea of creating organizational capacity provided a framework for future activities related to the Sessa scholarship-sponsored continuing education.

Throughout the year, I’ve been working through a reading program based upon the Personal MBA (http://www.personalmba.com), which promotes self-directed learning through reading selected business books. I supplemented the list with additional titles and blogs that allow for a current give and take on management ideas. Reading outside the library literature has naturally broadened my perspective but also enhanced my appreciation for the less competitive environment of my institution.

Participation in a leadership seminar has proven to be very difficult to select. Seminars aimed at corporate attendees tend to be far outside my budget; however, the process of considering programs and speakers has broadened my knowledge of leaders in the field and led to finding free resources, including online seminars and newsletters. In particular, I have enjoyed the webinars organized by Chief Learning Officer (www.clomedia.com) and Linkage (www.linkageinc.com). I have also found podcasts, such as Manager Tools and the Cranky Middle Manager, to be helpful support for practical advice for improving as a manager.

This summer I will attend a leadership pre-conference at ALA in Chicago and complete most of my visits to other libraries. These visits will provide an outlet for synthesis between the theory from the readings and the practical aspects of librarianship. I’m hoping that at the summer’s end I’ll have an enhanced vision for Technical Services and the leadership that its future requires. I am appreciative for the support the Frank B. Sessa Scholarship has provided for allowing a year’s worth of exploration in learning without the pressure of immediate and quantitative outcomes.