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Session: Leadership Skills for Archivists (Session 102)
From Saa2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 10:00 AM-11:30 PM
Session Description in SAA Program
[edit] Speakers and Papers:
George Mariz, Chair, Western Washington University
Donna McCrea, University of Montana - “Learning to Lead: Leadership and the Next Generation”
Tony Kurtz, Western Washington University - “Leadership, Accountability, and Technological Change”
Larry Hackman, Retired - “Toward a Thing That Goes of Itself: Leadership and Infrastructure in Archival Programs”
Randall C. Jimerson, Western Washington University - “Not All Leaders Are Born That Way: Teaching Leadership Skills”
[edit] Comments, Discussions and Further Information
This session was a good mix of presentation of theoretical concepts, discussion of experiences within institutions and the profession, and practical advice for people seeking to hone their leadership skills. I especially appreciated Donna McCrea's presentation, especially the discussion of the qualities of good leaders, the differences between older and newer conceptions of leadership (top-down vs. collaborative, giving orders vs. facilitating processes and actions), and specific suggestions for newer professionals and those seeking to improve their capacity for leadership.
Several resources and opportunities for those specifically interested in leadership within their institutions and the archival profession were mentioned multiple times. One was a book edited by Bruce Dearstyne titled Leadership and Administration of Successful Archival Programs. The other was the new NHPRC-funded Archives Leadership Institute that will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison next June. Information on the institute is available at http://www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed/archivesinst.html (User:Cdibella)


