SLIM Grads participate in MPLA Leadership Conference

During the first week of December 2004, 29 librarians traveled to the Mountain Plains Library Association Leadership Institute at Ghost Ranch, NM. Chosen from over 90 applicants in the 12 state MPLA region, these librarians had been identified by their states as future library leaders. Significantly, eight of the selected librarians were SLIM graduates!

Representing Kansas, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah, these SLIM grads and their fellow librarians were immersed in a week long study of leadership skills and theories facilitated by Maureen Sullivan, a nationally recognized leadership consultant. Underwritten by EBSCO Information Services and coordinated by Mary Bushing, who recently retired from Montana State University, the Ghost Ranch Leadership Institute provides training on a variety of topics including interpersonal communication, power and influence, risk taking and leading change. Four mentors, including Patti Butcher a SLIM-Kansas graduate, helped guide the institute.

Free from cell phones, computers and other distractions, the Leadership Institute allowed everyone to share their own experiences and learn from each other. The collegial atmosphere and beautiful scenery of New Mexico offered a perfect way to escape the daily grind of the real world and focus on what we as future library leaders can offer to the profession.

For more information on how you can apply for Ghost Ranch, please look for information on the MPLA Leadership Institute 2005 on their website at www.usd.edu/mpla/leadership. Information for this year’s institute should be posted around February 1, 2005.