Super Tuesday

Yesterday was Super Tuesday - the 5th year of the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute began at the Palmetto Branch Library in Manatee County. The twenty participants and their mentors gathered to discover what they can expect learn throughout the next ten months.

Attending the first session of the Institute is fun for me because I get to meet the participants and mentors but also get to see a new library. The Palmetto Branch is the newest of Manatee County's libraries and is a green building. It was quite interesting to learn what they had done. In expanding a building that was built in the early 1960s they added a beautiful grand entry way, a children's space and a wonderful meeting room. They tile was all made from recycled glass, they're used low emission (odorless) paint, the lights in some spaces are on motion sensors so if no one is in the room they turn off. They've won awards for their Florida friendly landscaping.

Tomorrow we'll gather at the Alachua County Library District Headquarters with another twenty-one participants and their mentors.

Participants in the program will meet monthly through July for sessions led by Jill Canono, DeEtta Jones and Pat Wagner. Throughout the program they'll work with their mentors to develop and complete a leadership project. They'll finish up the year with a celebration in Tallahassee.

If you're interested in participating in the program next year watch the blog for information about application process which should be available in Spring 2009.