Emerging Leader Report

On Friday, January 20, the 2012 class of Emerging Leaders met for a daylong session of leadership training, project planning, and an introduction to ALA. Though this was a lot to pack into one day, it was energizing to have so many creative and thoughtful librarians in one room!

I will be working with a team of fabulous librarians to create a blog for RUSA. At the Emerging Leaders workshop we had time to plan for the blog. Blog posts will focus on different aspects of and issues surrounding reference librarianship and other areas of interest to RUSA members. Since Midwinter, the team has been meeting virtually to set up the site, policy, and schedule. There will be more details about the blog to come! If you’d like me to email you when the blog is up and running, email ehamstra AT umich DOT edu.

Aside from the Emerging Leaders workshop, I was able to attend many other committee meetings, programs, and events at Midwinter. Sitting in on the RUSA Board Meeting gave me added insight into the structure of RUSA and ALA. I had a great time at the RUSA Book and Media Awards (kudos to the Statistical Abstract of the United States for winning the Dartmouth Medal, Lifetime Achievement Award).

I want to thank you all for welcoming me to committee meetings, and for giving me the opportunity to be the RUSA Emerging Leader!

Emily Hamstra
Learning Librarian
Shapiro Undergraduate Library
University of Michigan