Applications open through May 15. Applicants will be notified of acceptance on May 24.
The eighth annual Directors University (DU) will be held July 30, 2024 - August 1, 2024, at the Marriott in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. This professional development is intended for first-time directors and directors new to Illinois from public libraries of all shapes and sizes.
What is Directors University?
The training will prepare public library directors for their new executive roles. The University will also provide opportunities for networking and team building through lectures and small, informal discussions. Topics include library & employment law, policies, budgeting, board-director relations, leadership, and Illinois State Library and system competencies.
This year the Directors University planning committee has instituted a hybrid structure with half of the content in-person and the other half virtual.
During June and July, the remote content will be sent to participants in one week increments with virtual components that will be live and recorded. Participants will be able to work at their own pace and have an opportunity to meet virtually with a facilitator on the topic, discuss with other directors, and ask questions.
The in-person workshops will be held July 30, 2024 - August 1, 2024, at the Marriott in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. The committee will post a complete schedule of topics and speakers as soon as it is confirmed.
Fore more information about DU, including the application link, visit the ILA event page.
Directors University is a joint project of the Illinois Heartland Library System, Illinois Library Association, Illinois State Library, and Reaching Across Illinois Library System.
Contact RAILS, IHLS, ILA, or Directors University Co-Chairs with questions. If the registration fee is prohibitive, please contact your library system contact below.
RAILS:
Kate Niehoff, kate.niehoff@railslibraries.org
Director of Consulting and Continuing Education
IHLS:
Kate Kite, kkite@illinoisheartland.org
Continuing Education Coordinator Liaison
ILA:
Kristin Pekoll, kpekoll@ila.org
Conference and Continuing Education Manager
Directors University Co-Chair:
Monica Cameron, Director
Shelbyville Public Library
director@shelbyvillelibrary.org
Directors University Co-Chair
Jamie Paicely, Director
Flossmoor Public Library
paicelyj@flossmoorlibrary.org