Workshop Wealth: Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute

I was privileged to attend the graduation ceremonies for attendees of the second Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute (SSLLI, pronounced "silly" and anything but!) in Tallahassee earlier this month. Pat Wagner, noted futurist, library consultant, and excellent speaker, detailed Five Trends to Wake You in the Middle of the Night (did we really need more help to do that?). Her trends with the ensuing questions libraries and those who staff them must ask themselves are:

-Changing Status Issues (How can you earn the trust and respect of others every day?)
-Changing Customer Expectations (Will you succeed in a world where your library user is your peer?)
-Changing Demographics (Whom will the library choose to serve, because it can't serve everyone?)
-Integrating Nanotechnology (Are you ready for technology after the Internet and World Wide Web?)
-Competition (If you had to earn your budget every day, library user by library user, what would you be doing differently?)

If you or librarians you know are interested in learning about or attending SSLLI 3, "a year-long [ten-meeting] comprehensive series of learning sessions that focuses on developing an understanding of leadership, within a conceptual framework and practical applications," information is available here, applications are available here, and the application deadline is July 12, 2006, a mere two weeks away.

SUBJECTS: WORKSHOP WEALTH