Stepping Up: Library Leaders for the 21st Century
As the leaders and managers of today's libraries move towards retirement, the gap continues to widen between the number of management openings and the number of recent graduates who are interested in taking on managerial responsibilities. Funded by IMLS, the "Stepping Up" program provides a replicable model of community-wide cooperation designed to recruit, retain, and foster the professional growth of current library support staff who have an interest in earning their Masters in an ALA accredited program. With a particular focus on nurturing the development of librarians from under-represented populations and those with linguistic skills, the Stepping Up program will also enhance the diversity of our profession.
What's New
Stepping Up Honors Its First Graduates
Stepping Up honored its first graduates Friday, May 1 with lunch at the Carillon Restaurant in the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center on the UT campus. Among those who gathered to help celebrate the graduates, Michelle Bogart, Danna Lamb, and Gustavo Soto, were Stepping Up staff and mentors, and the Stepping Up library partner for the Austin Public Library, where all three graduates work.
In the photo are, clockwise from lower left: mentor Diane Palan of the Austin Public Library; graduate Gustavo Soto; library partner Tom Moran of the Austin Public Library; graduate Michelle Bogart; mentor Daniel Alonzo of the Austin History Center; Stepping Up staff member Quinn Stewart; Stepping Up staff member Don Hamerly; Stepping Up director Lynn Westbrook; graduate Danna Lamb; and Stepping Up staff member Jac Peery.
(Posted Monday, May 4, 2009)
Congratulations to Rebecca Taylor
Congratulations to Rebecca Taylor for winning the 2009 District 3 Conference stipend! After consultation with other committee members, Patricia Brauer and Carlyn Gray, these two outstanding applicants were selected: Rebecca M. Taylor from Pflugerville Community Library; and Gail Woodward from Marlin Public Library.
(Posted Thursday, March 26, 2009)
Stepping Up Spring Management Brown Bag Discussion
Title: Tough Times Management: Real-World Experiences
Hosted by Michelle Cervantes, Lori Hughes, Tom Moran & Arro Smith
Friday, April 10, 2009
11:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.
Room 468, Sanchez
What are the current issues, large and small, that library managers handle in keeping their libraries staffed, operational, and responsive to the needs of their users? 
Join some of our Stepping Up partners for a panel discussion of their daily management challenges in these tough economic times. Intended as a forum for public discussion, come prepared with questions for our panelists and some ideas of your own to share.
Your hosts for the brown bag are the Stepping Up staff and these fine panelists:
- Michelle Cervantes, Collection Development and Technical Services Manager, Round Rock Public Library
- Lori Hughes, Administrative Services Librarian, Albert B. Alkek Library, Texas State University
Tom Moran, Manager, Manchaca Branch, Austin Public Library- Arro Smith, Technical Services Manager, San Marcos Public Library
This event marks the fourth in a series of management workshops sponsored by Dr. Lynn Westbrook and the eight partner libraries of Stepping Up: Library Leaders for the 21st Century.
The discussion is open to the entire Central Texas library community, so spread the word. Plan to join us in room 468 (Sanchez Bldg., UT Austin) at 11:30 with your lunch and with questions to ask and ideas to share.
(Posted Sunday, March 22, 2009)
Ron Pollock Speaks On Managing Change
Ron Pollock, Director of Career Services at the School of Information, provided an overview of processes used to focus problem solving efforts on root causes and to effectively manage projects, including methods for visually informing decision makers on the progress of both problem solving and project management efforts. Ron's talk was the third in a series of management lectures sponsored by Stepping Up.
Ron has taught these tools in workshops and classes for the School of Information, the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Austin Community College, and the National Graduate School of Quality Management. Parties interested in scheduling a workshop with Ron can contact him: rpollock at ischool.utexas.edu.
(Posted Monday, November 3, 2008)
Congratulations to Samantha Mueller
Congratulations to Samantha Mueller for getting her article published in the August issue of Southwestern Archivist! Kudos are also in order for Samantha's mentor, Sue Soy, at the Austin Public Library. Here's the full citation:
- Mueller, S. L. (2008, August). Using wikies for group grant writing. Southwestern Archivist, 31(3), 47. [PDF]
(Posted Monday, August 11, 2008)
Congratulations to our Fall 2008 Recipients
Congratulations and welcome to our first class of recipients and mentors! We'd like to welcome the new cohort into the iSchool family and wish them well on their journey. Recognition should also go out to the mentors from participating libraries who will be assisting these new students with their academic careers. We're proud of you all--great work!