Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute Harold George Year 3 Laura Brenkus Year 4

1. Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute Harold GeorgeYear 3Laura BrenkusYear 4

2. “Joy is the core of Existence” -Ayn Rand As quoted in Week 9 of the Year 4 SSLLI session onEncouraging the Heart

3. Why Apply? Harold George • An opportunity to consolidate my experience and skills in a fashion that will help me discover the leader within. • Needed the exercise of reaching for goals and attaining them—exercising the leadership mentality. • Wanted to demonstrate to the state-wide community that I could make the professional commitment after years of sitting on the fence.

4. Why Apply? Laura Brenkus • Recommended to me by a fellow LSP cohort member whose opinion I trust. • Opportunity to meet other library professionals and understand “what’s out there”. • Get ‘outside my own box’ and see others’ approaches to librarianship. • I understood the value of networking…I just needed an opportunity…and what a great one!!

5. Personal Benefits – Harold George • Continued the enjoyable group learning experience from the LSP Cohort at FSU at SSLLI. • Beginning of Lifelong Learning and Development. • Met others in same field but with diverse experience and depth of knowledge. • Learned that I had much to offer with my own experience and insights.

6. PersonalBenefits – Laura Brenkus • Meeting new friends who have the same job • Gaining new insights into Leadership concepts and applying these to new situations. • Visiting the beautiful library at Port Orange • Gaining experience sharing with others • Learning about personality types • Sharing frustrating situations with people who may pose solutions

7. Professional Benefits – Harold George • Connection to a network of Information Professionals. • Working with a mentor who has become a source of ongoing guidance. • Learned to be a mentor for other young professionals in my own library. • Became Manager of the Hastings Branch of the St John’s County Public Library.

8. Professional Benefits – Laura Brenkus • Developing a great friend, colleague and mentor in Christie Koontz. • Understanding the variety of library situations that make up this field. • Meeting other professionals who are where I want to be. • Seeing the pros/cons of others’ library positions in order to better craft my career path.

9. Professional Benefits – Laura Brenkus • Learning to work within a group and ‘lead from where you are’. • Developing a network of professionals upon whom I can contact for help and advice. • Re-established contact with FSU • Able to network with college educators • Learned the requirements of establishing myself in this field…now have to PRACTICE!!!

10. The Mentoring Piece – Harold George “The value of a mentor cannot be overstated: Having someone that you can be candid with, whom you respect, trust and admire, with whom you are going to stay connected to, will serve your personal and professional development for as long as you allow.”

11. My Mentor:Sol M. Hirsch, MLIS One of the busiest times of HIS professional life. Provided an opportunity to converse with Steve Abram, SirsiDynix’s Vice-President of Innovation. The opportunities and respect my Mentor has given me has fueled my motivation and professional efforts.

12. My Mentor:Sol M. Hirsch, MLIS Had been a long time supporter. Had treated me as a professional years before I had credited myself as such. Has shown me the importance of honoring the value of the work of all individuals.

13. The Mentoring Piece… When I was in Month 7 of the Institute and realized that I was not going to accomplish one of my goals, my mentor said: “Maybe you’re just not ready. But you will be, and that’s ok.”

14. My Mentor:Christie Koontz,PhD. Took the lead in establishing the communication routine. Listened to my needs, goals and desires. Helped me re-frame some unrealistic expectations WITHOUT making me feel incompetent. Made it FUN!

15. My Mentor:Christie Koontz,PhD. Helped provide new opportunities for growth. Has continued to offer advice and is there for questions. Has become my friend…not always possible, of course…but what a great PLUS!!!

16. Hastings Branch Library

17. Outcomes – Harold George • Became Manager of the Hastings Branch of the St. John’s County Public Library. • Became a better manager through my new understanding of the value of Mentoring and the skills involved. • Became an adjunct Professor for FSU’s College of Information, emphasizing the leadership of the Information Community.

18. Outcomes – Harold George • Became a Director-At-Large of FLAs Executive Board. • Experienced exponential growth in confidence within my own professional and personal life. • Solidified a commitment to the field while experiencing many professional and personal challenges.

19. The Gioconda and Joseph King Library

20. Outcomes- Laura Brenkus • Learned to formulate career goals and expectations into one statement. • Have many people to whom I can turn for professional help. • Now teaching as an adjunct at FSU College of Information with plans to attend post-grad school within 2 years. • Promoted to Head Librarian of the King Library, Palm Beach.