Tag Archives: MILE

Programs

MLA Institute for Leadership Excellence 2019 Mentors Program

"Mentor" Sticker Design version A

We are always fans of leadership training! It does not matter what your job is in libraries – you are (or can be) a leader. We believe strongly in the idea of leading from any position – and this is so important in any type of library!

MILE has been a good force for library leadership training in Minnesota. And now they are looking for mentors. You do not need to be an “expert” of any sort; but if you have experience you can share with a less-experienced library staffer, this is a great way to contribute to the profession.

We are passing on this information from MLA – and encourage you to consider applying to be a mentor. You can provide some great assistance to someone else, and it really helps you in your own career to have this opportunity to stop and think about the work you are doing and how you got here. (Self reflection is a valuable, not-always-recognized benefit of mentoring!)

The MLA Institute for Leadership Excellence (MILE) Mentor Program is an opportunity for experienced library professionals to share their knowledge and experience with future Minnesota library leaders who attend and participate in MILE. Mentors are matched with participants based on the information provided in the mentor application. On the last day of MILE, mentors and participants meet to begin an 18 month mentorship program.Application now open: Apply HERE

The Value of Mentoring

Mentors…

  • strengthen the profession by strengthening its future leaders.
  • grow and learn from their relationship with their participants.
  • can improve communication and leadership skills.
  • gain a personal satisfaction from helping others in the library profession.

Participants…

  • gain valuable knowledge and advice on career goals and professional development.
  • have the opportunity to eliminate or reduce feeling of professional isolation.
  • can expand their professional network.
  • can acquire new skills and confidence in their abilities.
  • are exposed to new opportunities within the professional community.

The Minnesota Library Association…

  • gains an efficient and skilled community of librarians and paraprofessionals.
  • helps foster a community of librarians who focus on lifelong learning and development.
  • helps build and strengthen a statewide professional network.

Where and When Mentor Relationship Begins

MILE Mentors are welcomed to attend one half-day session of the “Leading for Life” conference held at Sugar Lake Lodge in Cohasset, Minnesota on May 10th, 2019.  Mentors and participants try to meet quarterly and commit to an 18-month mentoring relationship. Mentors assist participants with goal-setting, networking, and leadership development.  

Mentor responsibilities

We ask all our mentors that:

  • you commit to an 18-month relationship with your assigned mentee
  • You work with your mentee to understand and help frame their goals
  • You contact your mentee and reach a satisfactory schedule for meetings and goal updates
  • You contact your mentee on an agreed upon schedule. (At least quarterly is recommended.)

Each mentor relationship is unique to the participant’s needs.  The mentor and participant should work to define and develop their particular roles in the relationship in light of the mentee’s goals and professional needs.  Determine these roles early on in the relationship so that you can get the most out of your 18 months together.

A relationship with your mentee consists of:

  • Communicating on professional topics
  • Being interested in your mentee’s career goals
  • Maintaining a safe environment where you and your mentee can discuss difficult topics

Mentee responsibilities

It is vital that the mentee:

  • comes to the relationship with a firm grasp on goals, objectives, and professional challenges
  • welcomes constructive criticism: this is a professional relationship meant to encourage growth and learning
  • helps facilitate communication by asking for suggestions and feedback
  • is open to new ideas or ways of looking at the library profession
  • expresses gratitude for the time your mentor spends with you
  • contributes to the community through ACTIVE involvement in MLA

Application now open: Apply HEREIf you are contemplating mentorship and have questions or comments, please contact the Mentorship Subcommittee Chair, Christy Wayne – [email]

Training

Institute for Leadership Excellence (MILE) 2019 Leadership in Action!

We are such fans of the MILE experience!! And we would love to see you go to this very cool opportunity!

Here is the information from the MILE:

Institute for Leadership Excellence (MILE) 2019
Leadership in Action!

May 7 – 10, 2019
Sugar Lake Lodge


The deadline has been extended to March 1st for applications to MILE! 

The Minnesota Library Association (MLA) Institute for Leadership Excellence (MILE) gives participants an opportunity to grow leadership skills, connect with library professionals from around Minnesota, and be paired with a mentor. MILE helps you discover the leader within yourself and learn to lead effectively today – even if your current position is not one of leadership.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

  • Develop and refine leadership skills
  • Develop and move forward on professional and personal goals
  • Network and make connections with people in the broader community
  • Reflect on the variety of leadership opportunities available at the local, regional and state levels
  • Meet and connect with your individually selected mentor

We are also looking for mentors to share their experience and knowledge with this year’s attendees.

Visit the MILE website to apply to be an attendee or mentor today!

Academic, General

MILE 2015: A CMLE Scholarship

Roxanne Backowski smaller sizeThe following post was submitted by CMLE scholarship recipient Roxanne Backowski, Library Technician at St. Cloud State University.

What were your favorite takeaways or new things learned?  As a result of attending this event, can you identify and explain a few things you can use/apply to your work or practice?

To say the least, Minnesota Library Association’s Institute for Leadership Excellence (MILE) was energizing and an enlightening experience. Before the conference, I took the Clifton Strength Finder Assessment and received a personalized report with my top five strengths (Harmony, Deliberative, Intellection, Input, and Learner).  Nikki Daniels, a conference presenter, took us through a more in-depth session on our strengths. I was able to apply the explanations of different types of strengths to my coworkers which has already helped my understanding of their work style. In addition, I have shared my top five strengths will my supervisor and even my family, so they can have a better understanding of me and how to capitalize on my strengths.  Learning about my strengths has made me more self-aware.  It has been difficult to accept that we are not supposed to focus on improving weaknesses or to waste energy attempting to be well-rounded people.  Rather, we are to improve and capitalize on our natural talents and strengths to be an effective leader.

Another takeaway from MILE was the importance of play. Barry Kudrowitz’s presentation on Facilitating Creativity through Humor and Play made me realize how much of a serious minded individual I can be.  We are more creative when we view an activity as play. I can apply this by changing my attitude toward work tasks–whether it be making a game out of scheduling students workers or attempting to generate creative ideas or solutions at a team meeting.

Some other tidbit takeaways I learned were about library advocacy and the power of telling stories about the value of a library, the plethora of leadership opportunities in MLA, the benefits of interviewing through panels, how to have difficult conversations with employees. I plan to try to gather stories as part of my everyday work, look into MLA increased involvement, and continue to work on articulating points to student workers.

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

New MILE Participants and Call for Mentors

Echinacea_purpurea,_Jardín_Botánico,_Múnich,_Alemania,_2013-09-08,_DD_01Mentors Still Needed: Are you interested in helping to develop the future library leaders in the list below? The MN Institute for Leadership Excellence (MILE) is still looking for mentors. They are seeking applications from experienced librarians/library professionals who would like to contribute to the success of Minnesota libraries. Applicants are sought from all types of libraries, and with a range of professional experiences. This is a great opportunity to make a professional contribution while getting to know an enthusiastic and engaged mentee. More information about the mentorship program and the mentor application can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/mlaexcellence/mentors.

Drum roll please….here are the 24 selected individuals for 2015!

Please take a moment to congratulate the new Minnesota Institute for Leadership Excellence (MILE 2015) participants. These individuals will come together over the next two years to build their leadership skills as well as create better libraries for our Minnesota communities.  Hearty congratulations to the following individuals; please note that individuals from the CMLE Region are highlighted!

  • Carolyn Avair, East Central Regional Library System
  • Roxanne Backowski, St. Cloud State University
  • Trent Brager, Minnesota School of Business-Rochester
  • Adam Brisk, University of Minnesota-Duluth
  • Julia Carlis, Dakota County Library
  • Amelia Cohoes, Globe University
  • Allison Girres, Pioneerland Library System
  • Shelly Grace, SAMMIE
  • Sarah Hawkins, East Central Regional Library System
  • Stacey Hendren, Anoka County Library
  • Kristin Jones, Carver County Library/Pioneerland Library System
  • Richmond Kinney, Duluth Public Library
  • Kelly Kraemer, College of St. Benedict | St. John’s University
  • Stephanie Langer, Kitchigami Regional Library
  • Rachel Lockman, Minneapolis Community & Technical College
  • Sarah Lo Pinto, Washington County Library
  • Anne Lundquist, Traverse de Sioux Library Cooperative
  • Chris Magnusson. Arrowhead Library System
  • Amy Mars, St. Catherine University
  • Lisa Motschke, Scott County Library
  • Jake Odland, Douglas County Library
  • Michael Schnieder, Minnesota School of Business-Elk River
  • Christie Schultz, Dakota County Library
  • Jill Wujcik, Sanford-Brown College
  • Jessica Zillhart, Anoka County Library
Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/qa5qnvt, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

MILE 2015 applications due

The Institute for Leadership Excellence (MILE), a subunit of MLA, is looking for applications for its 2015 leadership conference and program.

MILE helps you discover the leader within yourself and learn to lead effectively today—even if your current position is not one of leadership. During the four-day conference, selected participants spend their days in an intimate conference setting with 24 other emerging library leaders from across the state. – MLA MILE website.

With a December 1st deadline, apply now to develop your leadership skills and network in the library community.

Want to be a library leader mentor? You can apply too. Applications for mentors are due January 15, 2015.

A CMLE scholarship of up to $200 can be used for MILE. The application process is easy, so go for it!