The Research Library Leadership Fellows (RLLF) Program is an executive leadership program jointly designed and sponsored by ARL member libraries. The pilot program was sponsored by the University of California at Los Angeles; Columbia University; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of Texas at Austin; and University of Washington. The second offering is being sponsored by six ARL member libraries: University of California, Berkeley and the California Digital Library; Harvard University; University of Minnesota; North Carolina State University; Pennsylvania State University; and the University of Toronto. The program offers an opportunity for development of future senior level leaders in large research libraries.
Within the multidimensional RLLF Program structure, fellows:
- Prepare to shape libraries and librarianship at the national and international level
- Develop a global perspective on libraries and their role in society
- Learn to create a strategic vision for their library
- Research and discuss critical current academic issues
- Explore major themes within the academic and research community
- Develop the entrepreneurial mind-set and skill-set appropriate to the university leadership environment
- Clarify what advancements and innovations in information technology means for research library leadership
- Expand their understanding on the dynamics and politics of campus life
The program curriculum is purposely designed to build on self-assessment and exploring a personal and professional area of interest in the context of a group learning setting. ARL faculty, library leaders, and sponsoring library directors integrate the fellows’ learning goals with the "big picture" issues that are most pressing for future leaders of large research libraries. These topics are the focus of institutes that are designed and facilitated by active leaders in the ARL community. The RLLF curriculum is enhanced through site visits to participating ARL libraries and attendance at ARL Membership Meetings.
The program exposes and engages library staff who have the desire and potential for leadership at ARL libraries to themes and institutions that will enhance their preparedness. The program includes two fellows from sponsoring institutions, augmented with ten additional individuals from ARL libraries.
