The role of leading from a support staff position CLASS Professional Development for Support Staff Conference University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT November 18, 2011 Tracy Sutherland Public Services Librarian Eastern Connecticut State University
May 12, 2015
The role of leading from a support
staff position
CLASS Professional Development for Support Staff Conference
University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT
November 18, 2011
Tracy Sutherland
Public Services Librarian
Eastern Connecticut State University
• Defining Leadership
• Library Leadership Philosophy
• Background • Smith College
• Amherst College
• Eastern Connecticut State University
• Vision/Focus • LLMA
• ALA Emerging Leaders
• Relationships
• Negotiating
• Speaking Up
• Learning More
• Resources - Handout
• Lead: The action of lead v.2; leading, direction, guidance.
to take to lead : to take under one's direction or guidance.
• Leadership :The dignity, office, or position of a leader,
esp. of a political party; ability to lead; the position of a
group of people leading or influencing others within a given
context; the group itself; the action or influence necessary for
the direction or organization of effort in a group
undertaking. Also attrib., as leadership behaviour ,
leadership school, leadership skill.
• Leadership is one of the most important aspects of an
organization, and with leadership comes continuous learning.
• Being a leader takes great communication skills and empathy.
• Past experiences fueled my passion both to be a librarian and
to develop into a leader in my professional and personal
environments.
• It’s important that a leader know when to ask for assistance as
well as identify areas for growth for the team and his/herself.
• Never ask anyone to do something you aren’t prepared to do
yourself.
• CYOA!!!
• Born in Southwestern Ohio
• Youngest of 8
• Held back in 3rd grade
• Always stuck up for friends
• Co-Captain of the Drill Team
• Homecoming Queen
• 1986 first attempt at College Undeclared
for a year
• Decided on Dance major
• Dropped out in 1989
• Worked retail into the early 1990’s
• Moved to New England 1992
You are a TEAM and you’ll like it!!!
• Assistant librarian (tenure track)
• Manage Interlibrary Loan
• Unions
• Photographer
• Committees
• Facebook Library Page
Eastern Connecticut State University
Public Services Librarian 2009-present
• Bachelor of Arts in 2003 from UMASS Amherst
• Masters in Library Science in 2005 from Simmons
Better librarian leadership is needed!
• Library Leadership of Massachusetts Association
• American Library Association (Emerging Leaders)
• Interests
• Common or uncommon
• Communication
• One on one
• Commitment
• Reliability
• Respect
• Become a change agent
• Pilot Programs
• Be innovative
• Be creative
• Showing Initiative
• Getting NO as an answer shouldn’t surprise you
• Don’t take it personally (usually the process is the problem)
• Write proposals
• About the library
• About the organization
• To further its success and yours
• Working on projects
• Managing students
• Suggesting ideas
• Implementing ideas of others
There are many ways to lead
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit" ~ Aristotle
THANK YOU!!!!
Tracy Sutherland
Public Services Librarian
Eastern CT State University
860-465-5719