Georgia Public Library Service selected 22 Georgia librarians to participate in the 2015-2016 co-hort of PINNACLE, the agency’s comprehensive leadership program (the name is short for the Public Library Institute for New and Creative Leadership Education). “By providing carefully designed training on numerous important and library-specific topics, PINNACLE is instrumental in our effort to prepare many talented individuals to take the next step in their careers and become our future public library leaders,” said State Librarian Julie Walker.
Working with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG), another unit of the University System of Georgia, GPLS designed and held the first sessions of the vigorous training program in 2007. More than half of PINNACLE’s graduates have gone on to serve as library system directors.
Members of the 2015-2016 class include: Pauline Abidde, director of the Dougherty County Public Library; Alexandra Beswick, central region manager for the Cobb County Public Library System; Elaine Black, director of Youth Services for GPLS; Katie Burnett, branch manager of Chattahoochee Valley Libraries’ North Columbus branch; Leslie Clark, branch manager for the Gwinnett County Public Library; Kristin Eberhart, outreach services manager for the Augusta-Richmond County Library System; Denise Funk, principal librarian for DeKalb County Public library; Oscar Gittemeier, librarian for the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System; Richard Groves, director of the Catoosa County Library System; Machelle Hill, library manager for the Coweta County Public Library; and Stephen Houser, director of the Milledgeville-based Twin Lakes Library System.
Also participating in this year’s class are: Adrianne Junius, youth services director for the Hall County Library System; Cynthia Kilby, director of the Manchester-based Pine Mountain Regional Library System; Jennifer Lautzenheiser, director of the Macon-based Middle Georgia Regional Library System; Jean Mead, assistant director of the Hart County Library System; Micah Newsome, young adult librarian for Evans-based Greater Clarks Hill Regional Libraries; Leslie Partridge, assistant director of the Lee County Library; Martha Powers-Jones, director of the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Library; Julia Simpson, branch manager for the Jefferson-based Piedmont Regional Library System; Angela Stanley, Heritage Room librarian for the Athens Regional Library System; Miguel Vicente, director of the Valdosta-based South Georgia Regional Library; and Teneka Williams, manager of the Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services Distribution Center in Morrow.
PINNACLE 2015-2016 will include seven sessions, starting with a weeklong retreat this month, and continues with six three-day sessions to be held every other month at various public libraries across the state. Topics will include analytical and creative problem solving; planning and process improvement; managing change; financial management; performance measures; human resource management; ethical use of power; conflict resolution; coaching and group dynamics; media relations; leadership in a political environment; and delivering effective presentations.
Participants must hold a master of library science, a master of science in library science or a master of library and information science degree, be currently employed in a public library in Georgia, and have at least two years of professional library experience.
Posted by Jeremy Dye on November 03, 2015
