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

sutherlandt@easternct.edu

860-465-5719