McMaster librarian awarded fellowship

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/JeannieAn edited.jpg” caption=”Jeannie An, a business librarian at McMaster’s Innis Library, is one of only two Canadians to be awarded a 2007-08 fellowship of the Association of Research Libraries’ Leadership and Career Development Program. Photo courtesy of Anne Plessl.”]McMaster's business librarian, Jeannie An, has been named as one of 19 fellows of the Association of Research Libraries' (ARL) Leadership and Career Development Program. An, who has been at McMaster since 2004, is one of only two Canadians awarded a 2007-08 fellowship.

The LCDP is an 18-month program that prepares mid-career libarians from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to take on increasingly demanding leadership roles in ARL member libraries.

The ARL sponsors the LCDP to address the needs of research libraries for a more diverse professional workforce serving an increasingly diverse scholarly and learning community.

The program was launched in 1997, and over the course of four LCDP offerings, 80 librarians across North America have completed the program.

As a librarian, An's passion is to help students become life-long learners through their academic studies.

“I believe the Leadership and Career Development Program offered by ARL can help me develop the skills I need to become an effective leader and champion of the library,” says An. “I am particularly excited about meeting new people and sharing ideas to gain a better understanding of the key issues libraries are facing today, and how we can make a difference in our own institutions.”

An hopes her participation in the program will help her become a role model for other Asian-Canadians and encourage them to become involved in the library profession.