Public Library Management Cohort

Public Library Management Cohort

The Library of Michigan works to provide library specific administrative training for public library staff. As part of this goal, LM is working with Andrew Sanderbeck/PCI Webinars to provide an in-depth Public Library Management cohort of up to 60 public library staff members, 30 in a Middle Management track and 30 in New Supervisors track. Recommended participants may be new public library directors or other public library staff with recently assigned management responsibilities. The cohort is a 5-month series of virtual meetings, 2 in-person workshop days, and coaching for each track.

The Middle Management track includes competencies to help attendees better manage themselves and others, including their bosses. Topic areas will include personal organizational skills including decision making and time management skills: one to one and team communication skills including difficult conversations and managing situations of conflict; process breakdowns and problem solving and influencing others without the authority to manage them.

The New Supervisors track consists of topics on effectively communicating with others including giving constructive feedback and managing situations of conflict. We will practice situations of coaching and managing our employees, get more comfortable with delegating to others and building relationships with others including our boss. Attendees will also sharpen personal organizational skills including decision making and time management.

The cohort participants will be assigned coursework, and virtual and in-person meetings will be interactive and include follow up from the assigned coursework.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF PARTICIPANTS?

Participants must commit to completing all assigned coursework, attending each meeting (5 or 6 depending on the track), attending both in-person workshops, and completing the coaching with the instructor. In return, LM will make all arrangements for the classes and meetings and cover the program costs of approximately $840 per participant.

To participate successfully you will need internet access, a desktop or laptop computer, and scheduled, uninterrupted time for coursework and meetings.

SCHEDULE

The cohort schedule is from May 2025 to September 2025

Cohort Timeline with Meeting Dates and Times 

APPLY FOR THE COHORT

Application
Agreement Form - Download, complete and upload in application as a pdf.

Please contact Karren Reish at reishk@michigan.gov or 517-241-0021 with any questions.

This project is made possible by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of Michigan.

Updated 3/6/2025