Teresa Y. Neely

Assessing Diversity Initiatives: The ARL Leadership and Career Development Program

ABSTRACT This article represents the results of a study of the participants in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Leadership and Career Development Program (LCDP). The study was designed initially to determine the effectiveness of the initiative; however, secondary goals reveal data on program participants’ perceptions of the success of the program in multiple areas of leadership as defined by program elements. In addition to demographic queries, participants were asked about positions held before and after program completion and the perceived impact of the program on their career paths. Participants were also queried on major program components including the mentoring relationship, research and publishing, and other leadership activities. Findings on the key elements of the ARL LCDP—the mentoring relationship, research and publication, and other leadership activities—are not unlike findings from other available research on library leadership institutes. It is clear from the evidence presented that the majority of the researchers included here are aware of the difficulties of correlating the impact of participating in and attending library leadership institutes; however, candid comments from participants reveal assessing the impacts of these programs on individuals qualitatively is much more easily done, and illuminating, than attempts to do so quantitatively.

Managing a digital collection: the Garst photographic collection

Over the years, digitization has become an important part of libraries because it increases accessibility to the general public via the World Wide Web. Colorado State University Libraries (CSU Libraries) is currently working on a digitization project containing 19,537 wildlife slides. This project is unique because it was managed fully by undergraduate students, from the collection’s donation to the launch of the final Web site containing 1,000 digital images. There were unanticipated set backs and minor problems, but in the end all the pieces fell into place. This paper addresses the process the students took in managing the project and the problems that can occur with such a large collection.

Building Back Better Libraries: Improving Planning Amidst Disasters

Originality/value Although aspects of BBB ideas are present in existing library literature, the concept is not formally defined for the library context.