ALA EMERGING LEADERS PROJECT Shu-Hua Liu, Jian Anna Xiong, and Hilary Davis July 2009 CALA Annual Conference

1. ALA EMERGING LEADERS PROJECT Shu-Hua Liu, Jian Anna Xiong, and Hilary DavisJuly 2009 CALA Annual Conference Analysis Report of Chinese American Librarian Association (CALA) Twenty First Century Seminar Series 2006-2008 美国华人图书馆员协会二十一世纪系列研讨会 分析报告2006-2008

2. Introduction - ALA Emerging Leaders Program • ALA Emerging Leaders Program was initiated by former president, Leslie Burger • A competitive program for new librarians with the opportunity for collaborative problem-solving and networking with peers • The Emerging Leaders form in groups to work different projects for ALA divisions and round tables to have in-depth understanding about the organization • The groups meet in person in mid-winter conference then collaborate totally online to complete project

3. Background – CALA 21st Century Seminar Series • Started in 2006 at Yunnan University • Collaboration & experience exchange between Chinese and American librarians • Professional development opportunity for CALA members • Sample topics: Digital librarianship, library management, reference & instruction methods, cataloging, consortium collaboration, & general challenges & opportunities faced by libraries

4. Emerging Leaders Project • Part 1: Gather & analyze data on seminar series from 2006-2008 including -Evaluation reports -The presenters’ profiles and their presentation topics -The participants’ demographics and their feedback • Part 2: Make recommendations for future seminars

5. Methods • Information about teams, presenters, presentation and discussion topics, hosting libraries, attendees, and feedback on the seminars was collected from the CALA 21st Century Seminar Series website • Some evaluations and reports were not available, therefore not included in this project report

6. Summary • July 2006 - November 2008 • Mainland China and Taiwan • 9 teams and 1 delegation group • 38 presenters from the U.S. (5 non-Chinese speaking presenters) • 13 presenters from China • 9 seminars • 145+ presentations

7. 51 Presenters (China and U.S. side) • Background • 92% academic • 6% public • 2% consortia • A few U.S. presenters made more than one trip

8. Presentation Topics • Reference and instruction • Technical services • Emerging technologies for libraries • Service models • Management and operations • Fundraising • Library professional organizations • Research and publication opportunities • Professional development • International cooperation • Digital librarianship

9. Topics and Audience There were total 145 presentations given in 2006-08 • 60% appropriate for general libraries • 30% academic library focus • 10% public library focus

10. Frequency of Topics

11. Participants • Over 900 attendees • From: Mainland China and Taiwan • From: Academic libraries, public libraries, school libraries, vendors, and governmental organizations • Background: library directors, librarians, associate research librarians/professor, with some support staff and students, etc

12. Map of Seminars and Origins of Participants

13. Feedback - General • Participants: Overall very positive in terms of: • Diversity, relevancy and clarity of content • Speed of presentation delivery • Knowledge and experience of the presenters • Presenters: • A rewarding and valuable learning experience • Appreciate the great hospitality and organization of the hosing library

14. Formats & Activities that Worked Well • Focus on practical aspects of librarianship • Discuss practical “how to” examples with hands on activities • Compare library practices between China & U.S. • Use lively & engaging presentation style such as skit, power point presentations, case study, Q&A, open forum discussion etc.

15. Major Areas Needing Improvement

16. Improvements Made Early On • Different formats • Different activities • Increased breaks • Less busy schedules • New topics for the presentations

17. Future Presentation Topics

18. Ranked Lists of Top Suggested Future Topics by Four Major Functional Roles • Application of technologies in library services • Assessment and Evaluation • Computing, networks and web technologies • Trends, impact, challenges and other issues associated with application of technologies • Integrated Library Systems Demo • Information security management • Network infrastructure in underdeveloped regions

19. Ranked Lists of Top Suggested Future Topics by Four Major Functional Roles - Continued • Public Services • Information Literacy/Library Instruction • Collection Development • Innovative library services in digital/Internet era • Subject librarians • Circulation, access and delivery services

20. Ranked Lists of Top Suggested Future Topics by Four Major Functional Roles - Continued • Library management at different levels • Workflows and process in all library units • Library management in general, all functions • Strategic planning (case studies) & problem solving strategies • Future of the library • International collaboration • Gifts and donations, fundraising • Library buildings • Organizational structure and management • Budget allocations, promotion and marketing, library policies • Special libraries & management of special libraries

21. Ranked Lists of Top Suggested Future Topics by Four Major Functional Roles - Continued • Research, Professional Development and Librarianship as a Discipline • Academic Research • Professional development, professional education, advancement into administrative roles • Practical aspects of librarianship

22. Online Presence of CALA Seminars • Significant improvements are necessary for website and incorporation of web technologies • Create online survey and discussion forum to collect feedback and promote interaction • Improved website structure with links to documents and resources

23. Recommend Online Portfolio • Webinars (synchronous and asynchronous discussions) • Online learning modules (handouts, articles, videos etc) • Promotion the seminar series with YouTube

24. Future ALA Emerging Leaders Project? • CALA should consider another Emerging Leaders project to focus on investigating and implementing the web-based solutions • Project proposals: -Create online registration form & survey using free software such as Zoomerang /Survey monkey -Create a wiki to archive the seminar documents & links to successful case studies in the U. S. -Set up a virtual discussion forum -Create a promotional video example 1)create online registration form, online survey (using free software such as Zoomerang/ Survemonky 2)WikiExplore web-based solutions such as wikis, blogs and free survey applications • In-depth programming skills for more dynamic & sustainable online portal (working with CALA webmaster)

25. Emerging Leaders Project Wiki • Full report • Wiki version • This PowerPoint presentation • Digital version of poster presented to Emerging Leaders session http://wikis.ala.org/emergingleaders/index.php/Project_W_(2009)

26. Project Contact • Hilary Davis Assistant Head Collection Management for Engineering and E-Science Collection Management, NCSU Libraries Email: hilary_davis@ncsu.edu • Jian Anna Xiong Government Information Librarian/Associate Professor Southern Illinois University Carbondale Email: axiong@lib.siu.edu • Shu-Hua Liu Reference Librarian Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library Email: shu-hua.liu@sjlibrary.org

27. Thank You! Thanks to CALA & especially to Haipeng Li and Shali Zhang, project mentors!