MLA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
March 29-31,2005
SUMMARY OF EVALUATIONS
N=22
Overall Institute
Avg score on 1-5 scale
Interest and timeliness of topics
Accuracy and quality of information
Appropriateness of program format
Value of program to professional growth
Overall effectiveness of program met expectations
Location/facilities
Food
Cost for the Institute
4.55
4.60
4.38
4.48
4.43
4.55
4.43
4.40
Including a cross-section of paraprofessionals, new librarians, and experienced managers:
a.
was valuable and stimulated new ideas
(15)
b.
worked okay but more homogeneity would be better
(3)
c.
was not valuable/interfered with my ability to obtain maximum benefit
from the Institute
Other comments:
• More fresh fruit, please
• Loved the off-site dinner
• Would have liked more hands-on practical information
• Too many participants (group too large?) Several people I never talked to.
• Time to connect bios with faces/introduce each other/group cohesiveness/time to
network. (2)
• Tune to talk about readings (3)
• I'm not sure I was always aware of the mix. What I saw primarily was a collection of
people who work very hard in libraries they love and have considerable
experience.
• Being in a "quiet" place helped clear my mind, enabling me to focus on the task at
hand.
• Would have liked more "walk" breaks or time to reflect on our own self as leader.
• There was a lot presented. I would have liked more discussion time. (2)
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• Comments among participants seemed like non-managers found it less helpful and
wondered how they could apply to their jobs. As a participant, I'm not sure the
cross-section affected my experience.
• Since we are supposed to converse with our mentors for the next 18 months, it would
have been nice to have more info about her and exactly how she could help me.
• Thought we needed to do less sitting and being talked to. I don't want to role play or
do activities all day long, but a mixture.
• Effectiveness is yet to be rated after 18 months and tune with the mentor.
• Changing the room orientation on Day 2 helped.
• All evening sessions should end at 8 pm.!
• It would be nice for attendees to get together in a few months to talk about what we
learned/initiated in our individual leadership positions.
• Starting off with Kirn Clarke's presentation (Leadership Development Plan) would
have had me thinking about personal goals. Perhaps realizing how meager our
professional goals are would have been useful while other sessions were going on.
• Leadership occurs at any job level - so mixing "status" of participants is good.
• The different types of library employees and the diversity of the Institute were great!
• Have you thought of including grad students not in a library? Would that be beneficial
or would it be boring for them? Would we want to do that?
• Networking and sharing info was most valuable.
• Food, especially desserts, was wonderful!
• Wasn't really aware of other participant's functions at their libraries - might have been
good if we could have known this.
• Good location and structure - probably good idea to do bi-annually. Could add 1 more
day to the event.
• A formal introduction to all participants (one-on-one or group settings) would have
been nice.
• The mentor reception was just too many people to keep in order (remember who's
who?)
• Explain at the outset that we will be developing theoretical skills and the LDP is the
practical use of those skills.
• There was some concern that we were "talking the talk" but putting the knowledge to
use. It may be that small groups and role-playing could be introduced.
• Location/workplace on name tags.
Speakers/Content
The speakers were knowledgeable, organized and effective
4.73
in their presentations.
Each session was presented in an organized manner.
4.68
The pace of each session was appropriate with adequate time
4.00
for Q&A.
(Some were a little long; not enough time for diversity piece)
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Tuesday evening Mentor Reception:
4.30
Comments:
•
•
I wanted more time to figure out what I am supposed to get/learn from her.
Maybe a bit too long.
Wednesday morning panel (Leadership in Challenging Times):
Marvin Anderson
Renee Reed
Jan Parker Wiessner
Lester Heitke
4.68
4.70
4.50
4.50
Comments:
• JPW - talked too much about what a commissioner does
• LH - nice to hear about concrete ways to support libraries
• MA - well-educated, interesting man!
• RR-Wow! Very inspirational, down to earth lady!
• JPW - nice to hear from an elected official.
• LH - everyone needs a mayor like him!
• Wonderful diversity of speakers!
• Excellent!
Wednesday afternoon:
Don Kelsey (Team-Building /Problem-Solving)
4.63
- His lecture was too condensed. I feel like we just got the
tip of the iceberg/Would find it interesting to use his theories
Peter Pearson (Advocacy Fundraising)
- Would like to have his charisma bottled & give to everyone on
the staff & our Friends
- Awesome handouts
4.73
Video & Discussion - Peacocks/Diversity
- Loved the video/Really sorry we had to squeeze this in;
would have liked discussion on the film (4)
3.86
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Thursday morning:
Barbara Strandell (DISC)
- Could have learned from her for days!
Mary Wagner/Carol Johnson (Case Histories)
- Focus on leadership challenges (2)
- Would have liked case studies to be more specific/context
- Tedious but valuable
4.86
3.86
Kimberly Clarke (Leadership Development Plan)
4.00
- This is what I needed/a giant push in the right directions
- Slow down; you had too many good things!
- More time spent here/move earlier in the Institute
- Clearly talented & tunny; good at connecting with the audience
- Wanted her to sound like an "expert" instead of "I found an article..."
Materials
Were the pre-Institute reading requirements helpful?
3.77
Were the handouts/materials pertinent?
4.55
- May of the pre-Institute readings had an academic library Orientation (not that they
weren't useful.) Possibly more of a public library slant would be better, especially
given the makeup of the participants.
- We should have talked about them (4)
- Handouts we received at the Institute looked more interesting.
What are the two most important things you learned during the Institute?
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Looking at different ways of defining leadership
Self-evaluation of one's own strengths/weaknesses
Leadership is a fine concept & we can learn to be leaders
If we are going to be MN library leaders, we need to spend more time on MN
library issues and less on personal development. Perhaps we don't need
monitors but groups with tasks related to MN library issues
Insight into myself. New views of leadership activities from experienced folks.
Managers do things right; leaders do the right thing.
Leadership can be learned. Style can be adaptable.
Idea of leadership is changing/adapting to new roles.
There are different types of leaders and that's OK - but yon still need to be
effective in order to continue.
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-Leadership is personal
-Leaders can be in any position; at any level.
-Besides the networking, able to see where I fit in the library world and the
influence I have.
-Learning how to cope with difficult groups - not only through seeing others
but also self-analysis.
-I am a leader
-Team problem-solving
-Leadership is a verb. (2)
-You can change you style of leadership. Leadership skills can be learned.
-I've learned that I can learn to access my "c" and "s" and that it is
important. To work on balancing skills, not avoiding the need to address my
imbalance.
-Leadership occurs up and down an organization.
-Have a sheet of end goals given to participants at beginning (of Institute.)
-Networking. Learning about how others became leaders.
-I am not alone!!! There are others struggling with their lot in library land,
with leadership issues and with professional development issues.
-Sharing information and experiences of peers in similar libraries.
-Inspired to think about my leadership style and ways to improve.
-Understanding that leaders are everywhere within an organization.
-Ability to change to be more successful as a leader depending on
situation/person I'm dealing with.
-Team-building session was interesting.
-Peter Pearson was interesting.
-I loved the panel discussion because every speaker illustrated that personal
experience (sometimes misfortune) had helped drive them to
accomplishment.
-Everyone present at the Institute seemed driven by a love of libraries and
library services.
-You need a heart, courage and a brain (to be a leader).
-Styles vary with individuals and situations.
-Leadership can be learned; there is no one style.
-You management approach should change for each situation/adapting.
-New friendships forged. Very valuable to meet other people in the field and
hear their stories.
-Learned that some of my own characteristics that I thought would be
hindrances in leadership are actually viewed as strengths.
-Leadership means many things.
-Good leaders know who to ask and how to put the right people in the right
positions.
-Leadership is, at some point in the process, everyone's job.
-That what I would have done in the past (as far as leadership goes) was
correct and that I received additional support and ideas on how to progress
my leadership potential/style.
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If you could modify the structure of the ML A Leadership Institute, what would you
change?
- Even though you're trying to cram a lot of material into the sessions quickly, it's
also good to realize that people need breaks & downtime/time to talk with
peers, etc.
- Could add another full day and spread the topics out/maybe add another
speaker/topic.
- Longer sessions with breakout periods for group discussion and activities based
on the content presented by the speaker.
- Not sure at this time.
- Spread it out a little instead of having one mega-long day. Mix up the lectures
and the participation sessions a little more.
- Start earlier - 1:00 pm.? Barbara Strandell first?
- I would have liked time to network more with the other attendees. I don't have
time to talk to other librarians from other systems.
- Begin at noon on first day for some activities (speakers)
- I loved Don Kelsey's presentation but wish he had used more of his many reallife experiences in the presentation of committee work, as opposed to theory.
- Need more clear (clarity?) that the Institute was theory and the next 18 months
would be practical.
- Allow an evening for networking; maybe don't plan an evening "class"; DISC
session would have been more interesting if it had been more interactive.
- Limit evening sessions - it's nice to socialize and/or relax.
- More sessions on the first day and less on last day would be nice.
- Shorter sessions and no case studies.
- More about leading from where you are/how to motivate others/preventing burnout/becoming more active in MLA/advancing yourself professionally/dealing
with difficult people/work more on personal philosophy of leadership (from
"The Leadership Challenge") Diversity training/how to be more
assertive/how to meet people & make connections/communication
skills/professional speaking.
- The guys were "housed" separately; though I understand it was for logistics, it
did not provide them with an "after hours" talk session that the women all
participated in or at least had the option of participating in (this was an
impromptu talking at round 9-10 at night)
- Sleeping arrangements first night impacted greatly on the talks given on
Wednesday. Most of us got little, if any, sleep (my roommate snored the
whole night so did someone else!) so activities the next morning helped
contribute to my nodding off - not because the speakers were boring but
because we were being talked at. Perhaps activities or discussion that a.m.
would have been more appropriate
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I hate to say it should be longer but, yes, there was no time to meet everyone
and two overnight was not enough time to bond.
Change first day to 1-3 p.m. Met mentor; get reading materials at CSC
library. No need to do in advance. Thurs-Friday have dessert & coffee at
movie site so it doesn't have to be cancelled. Move Thurs programs to
Friday.
More constructed mixers - continue to emphasize to participants the
importance of networking through days 2 & 3. More time for us to practice
or role play the information presented by each session - so much in my head!
Longer breaks between sessions, especially on Wednesday (long day!) Start
an hour earlier on Tuesday (Ist day) to get one session in so that Wednesday
(2nd day) is not quite so long.
First (full) day was outstanding - panel, sharing with panel members
(roundtables); 2nd day weaker somehow. Meeting mentor Tuesday evening
was great format.
Have more group activities - there are many people I didn't interact with.
Also, it would be nice to have a bit more practical use of what we learned.
Great speakers but practice of all the talk would be good.
I would add more time to reflect on things we're learning. Wednesday (2nd
day) was too long. Meet with mentors a second time on the last day of the
Institute. Introduction to the LDP on the first day and work on it during
second day.
I need more hands-on learning in order to effectively remember what I
learned. Since everyone was from different job specialties, it was hard to ask
for input for my situation.
Little bit of afternoon break between speakers like a brisk campus walk.
Optional Tues or Weds evening activities such as a nearby wine bar. Try to
add some greater practical application, but got a little of this on day 2.
Break up speaker activities with participant activities. Keep dorm
accommodations. It was fun to visit with others in the field.
Three full days w/a few more breaks. Larger group meeting room. Change
in room arrangements on day 2 helped.
Make fist day longer and last day shorter. Participants are tired on last day
and have more energy on first day.
A bigger room. Possibly 3rd floor Coeur de Catherine.
The timing and the pace.
Additional comments:
- Overall, a very positive experience.
- I would like to see more focus on the MN library community. We don't know
enough about each other's systems, structures and practices and how they all
fit together in MN and the rest of the world. It seems to me that good
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MN library leaders will emerge from those that have a better understanding
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of the whole. ML A is the natural organizer of that kind of education process.
Keep mix of participants/different parts of the state/library types/job types.
This was a wonderful opportunity; very enjoyable.
How did you find the speakers you did? We need more modeling, not theory.
I'm glad I came. It was good to network. I came with assumptions of what I
expected to get out of this. I left with a better look at who I want to become.
Barbara Strandell should have gone first and we could have connected
everything the speaker said to ourselves.
Hard to apply some of the stuff to an academic library.
Great to see passionate people. A lot of things learned through the
networking.
More fruit for breakfast/breaks. Less calorie-laden muffins/desserts
(although the Cafe Latte Turtle Cake was great!)
Add library name to name tags.
25 was a nice group to be with. Nice, friendly people. Fresh fruit would have
been nice for some of the snack breaks.
Unclear what is expected of us after the Institute is over re: MLA/next year's
Institute.
We would like to meet again face-to-face to review LDP's and progress.
Most of us agree one of the best achievements was new connections we've
made. This has been a great start.
Larger breakfast. Food ran out on Weds. At breakfast at dining hall)
Thursday - no wine at dinner - maybe even no wine at mentor reception. A
participation said perhaps too much emphasis on food.
We need to get together more often before next year.
Have the session during summer! March is too busy!!
We need to regroup and re-network. It would be great to meet up with all
these people again.
Group should meet at least quarterly to network and share progress, etc.
Thank you so much for offering the Institute. I'd like to see fewer lectures,
Power Points and overheads and more interactive work with participants i.e., what are your goals? What is holding you back?
It was wonderful to have the State Librarian, Don Kelsey and so many
members of the Institute Committee present throughout. Thank you for
giving so much to this project for our well-being and growth. It was
wonderful!
Very worthwhile event.
Encouraged pride in self and profession.
Maybe more of an introduction by each participant: name, library, position,
responsibilities, etc., so we can get a feel for who we are with.
The dinner was fine but I would have recommended no free alcohol (or one
drink only) and maybe coffee and dessert during the Peacock movie &
discussion.
It would be helpful to have ach person's library written on their nametags it would help put names & faces & schools together.
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- I was very happy to have a mentor! I wish I would have had one 10 years
ago!
- I wish we could have talked more about the Johasi (?) window.
- Not exactly sure what our role is over the next 18 months.
- Food was wonderful - glad the group was flexible enough to change
Wednesday evening session and move movie to Thursday.
Would you recommend the Leadership Institute for one of your peers?
Yes-22
No-0
- If some things change, definitely.
- Absolutely! I also wish all the managers and administrative staff at my
organization could attend this Institute.
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