The National Library of Medicine, in collaboration with the AAHSL (Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries), has announced that the application process for the 2015-16 class of leadership fellows is now open. The deadline is July 20. Candidates should have a serious interest in eventually becoming the director of a health-sciences library and should already have experience working in a health-sciences library, a hospital library, or another library environment. The program is also seeking mentors among current library directors who have at least five years’ experience leading a library. The deadline for applying to be a mentor is July 15.<\/p>\n
The program lasts for a year and requires participating in three in-person leadership institutes, attending the AAMC annual conference, and being part of a yearlong mentoring relationship that will include both webinars and an on-site visit to the mentor’s library. Through these activities, fellows will learn the best theories and strategies for implementing change, become familiar with the main issues impacting academic health-sciences libraries, develop a strong professional bond with mentors and other fellows that lasts long beyond the fellowship year, and familiarize themselves with the career paths to becoming a library director.<\/p>\n
The Leadership Fellows Program, which began in 2002, has seen 67 fellows and 57 mentors participate. A significant number of past fellows have succeeded in becoming library directors or landing positions with even greater responsibility.<\/p>\n