ILEAD USA:
Innovative Librarians Explore, Apply and Discover

Applications are due January 29 for ILEAD USA 2016, a leadership and technology immersion program.  It’s not too late to form a team!

• Do you have any community problems?
  Yes!
• Would you like to solve them with technology?
  Maybe…but
• Do you need to know anything techie?
  No!
• Do you work in a public, school or academic library? In any capacity?
  Yes!
• Want to work with some fabulous fellow library workers from around the state?
  Definitely!

…..Then you may want to consider applying for ILEAD USA!

ILEAD USA, is a new kind of leadership initiative that allows teams of library employees from all types of libraries to enhance their communities with technology.

We are looking for representatives from Pennsylvania libraries to participate! Five teams, of five individuals each, will be selected for 2016. Mentors are provided to each team, which selects a community problem that they will solve with participatory technology!  You do not need to have the solution when you apply!

The primary goal of this program is to implement a program that develops the knowledge, skills and abilities of library staff to understand and respond to user needs through the application of participatory technology tools. Technology skills are not required; the main requirements are a willingness to learn and participate.

The 2016 ILEAD USA schedule will include three in-person sessions in Harrisburg:

• March 14-17, 2016
• July 11-14, 2016
• October 3-6, 2016

These in-person sessions provide national keynote speakers, classes targeted to technology needs that may be required by your community problem, and an opportunity to network and build a sense of technology competence. You must be able to attend all three sessions.
Three intersession activities are also required between in-person sessions. Intersessions may include online meetings or webinar or conference calls etc.

Look over the individual and  team applications.
The first part of the ILEAD USA webinar is archived here (watch first 24 minutes 10 sec ) Most of the appliation process is explained through the team application.
Please contact Diana Megdad 717-787-3124 if you have questions).
Check out this past year’s teams (and keep looking for even more videos to come).

What to know

• Any staff member from any type of library may apply; an MLS is not required.
  Directors–encourage your staff to apply!
• Teams consist of five participants from different types of libraries – public, school, academic, or special.  Teams are discouraged from having more than one member from any one library.
• Teams will need to decide on a community need after the team has formed.
  Projects that have already begun are not eligible.  Part of the process is for the team to decide on a community problem together. This is an individual grant, not a grant to any library or system.
• Applications will be due from each team member as well as the team itself.  The individual applications accompany the team applications.
• Each participant will identify a Community User Representative, a “user/patron,” within their community/constituent group, who will serve as a sounding board to the participant during the ILEAD USA program.
• Participants also need to obtain a Letter of Commitment from their governing/corporate authority since they will be using work time while participating in the in-person sessions, the Intersessions and for work on the final project.
• Applications are due January 29
• Those selected will be notified on February 15.
• Hotel and meals, as well as a small travel allowance, will be provided to those selected to attend.

Access the individual and  team applications for 2016 ILEAD USA!
Applications are due by January 29.

Please contact Diana Megdad at 717-787-3124 if you have any questions.  It’s not too late to form a team!