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Matthew Ballard Attends ACRL CLDMP Seminar

Matthew Ballard, Director of Library Services, had the opportunity to participate in the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) College Library Director Mentor Program (CLDMP) as part of the 2018-19 cohort. Matthew was one of fifteen "new" library directors who participated in a year-long program where each library administrator was paired with a local mentor. The program culminated in a four-day seminar at the Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, Ohio, April 7^th-10^th.

The CLDMP Seminar consisted of numerous sessions targeting important challenges facing libraries at smaller academic institutions (less than 3,000 FTE). Topics included communicating the value of libraries, utilizing strengths-based leadership, library strategic planning, leveraging ACRL’s Standards for Libraries in Higher Education, and developing assessment strategies.

Matthew had this to say about his time in Cleveland:

“The CLDMP Seminar was an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues across the country who are facing challenges similar to those at Roberts Wesleyan College. Data-driven decision making is an important aspect of responsible stewardship. Learning ways in which I can leverage data to convey the value of our library to campus administration and position our institution for the future is an essential part of my role. The whole experience, including the ongoing mentorship received from a fellow colleague, has helped solidify my passion for librarianship and my role as a library administrator. I returned from Cleveland with a book full of ideas and I look forward to working with our talented library team to push several new initiatives!”