ILEAD Ohio applications are open — learn more at virtual Team Labs on Jan. 14 and 15!
“If I had to answer in three words the question of how my ILEAD experience has impacted my life, I would say: confidence, network, and direction. ILEAD gave me all three and has truly defined the work that I do now and the work that I’ll do going forward. I am so grateful for the experience I had there (and the friends I made along the way)!”
Katie Albright, 2023 ILEAD Alumni, Student Success Librarian, Otterbein University.
The State Library of Ohio and OhioNet are pleased to announce applications for ILEAD Ohio are now open. ILEAD Ohio is a transformative 9-month program designed to develop the leadership and project management skills of library staff across the state. By working in teams to address real community needs, participants will gain hands-on experience in project management, team building, and community collaboration.
Applicants will form a team of four to five and submit their application as a group. We strongly encourage diversity by selecting applicants from a variety of library types – public, school, academic and special whenever possible. There can be no more than two team members from the same library system. Applicants are not required to have a master’s degree in library science and can be at any position at their library. Successful applicants will be Ohio library staff members who are innovative and interested in growing their leadership skills and working with their peers to address a need in the library profession and/or their communities.
Those interested in applying for the program are invited to attend one of two ILEAD Team Labs on January 14 at 4 p.m. or January 15 at 9 a.m. These informal sessions will provide a brief overview of the ILEAD Ohio program, application process, and allow participants to discuss project ideas and connect with potential teammates. ILEAD alumni and members of the 2025 planning team will be present to answer questions and share experiences.
Register here for the ILEAD Team Lab on January 14 from 4-5 p.m.
Register here for the ILEAD Team Lab on January 15 from 9-10 a.m.
ILEAD Teams selected for the 2025 cohort will implement collaborative and/or interactive tools that foster community engagement as well as develop leadership, creativity, and solution-focused change. Throughout the 9-month program, participants engage in a conversation to identify a community need, identify user representatives to provide critical feedback during the development of the project, and grow as a leader and gain valuable experience in project management.
Application documents must be downloaded and completed as a team. Information about the ILEAD program and application can be found on the ILEAD Ohio program page. Applications are due no later than February 17, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Team members will be notified of acceptance in early March of 2025. If you need assistance creating your team or developing your idea, please contact Erin Kelsey at [email protected] or 614-644-6889.
ILEAD Ohio is made possible by the State Library of Ohio and OhioNet with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Through grant making, policy development, and research, IMLS helps communities and individuals thrive through broad public access to knowledge, cultural heritage, and lifelong learning. To learn more about IMLS, please visit www.imls.gov.
