by Kathy Roegge, MLS and Jim Deiters, Blue Island PL

In 1994 the Small Public Library Management Institute (SPLMI) was created by the Illinois State Library ( http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/home.html) and Western Illinois University (www.wiu.edu) using funds provided by a Library Services and Construction Act (now LSTA) grant. The goals of SPLMI were to:

• Enhance administrative skills
• Develop leadership skills
• Provide opportunities for networking
• Build confidence and self-esteem
• Introduce automation, technology and on-line searching techniques

Since its beginning the program has gained local, statewide and national attention. Each year 50 applications from all over the state are accepted to participant in the institute. Topics covered by the institute include laws and legislation impacting libraries, programming, administering a library, director/board relations, standards, customer service and policies. During the 5 days participants are afforded opportunities for networking and to visit other libraries or sites. Over the years the institute has expandeded its requirements to allow more libraries to be able to participate and moved the site of the institute from WIU to the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) ( www.uis.edu) in 2001.

In 2007 the State Library, as part of their LSTA Five-Year Evaluation( http://www.imls.gov/pdf/5yrevals/IL03-07Eval.pdf) stated “Four dimensions were consistently evaluated across the four years—amount and quality of learning, application of learning, networking, and contact with the Illinois State Library. There were extremely high ratings for the amount and quality of learning, with nearly all giving this the highest ratings. At least nine out of ten participants definitely felt that their new knowledge would change the way they would approach their library responsibilities. Most reported developing a better network of librarians (85 to 94%), and a similar number reported that they were more likely to contact ISL for assistance.”

A recent (2009) participant, Jim Deiters director of the Blue Island Public Library (http://www.blueislandlibrary.org), talks about his experience at SPLMI.

“The 2009 Small Public Library Management Institute was five days of engaging speakers and behind-the-scenes tours, but what impressed me most about SPLMI was how well it was organized. Weeks before departure participants received introductory packets that included the daily itineraries, a list of attending librarians, parking maps, room accommodations – even suggestions on appropriate attire. The Planning Committee put a lot of work into logistics and it showed.

On Sunday, as participants arrived at Lincoln Hall on the University of Illinois-Springfield campus, we were greeted at the door. Smiling Committee Members were present for introductions. They answered our questions, handed out more information and directed us to our rooms. Since we had received our schedules ahead of time, we already knew that Leadership and Teamwork was the topic of the evening.

The rest of the week included bus trips to the State Library, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum that ran like clockwork. Let me tell you, keeping 50 librarians in line is no easy task. Delicious meals were served in variety of locations and a variety of snacks were available in the Networking Lounge at the dorm every evening. Coordination of the meals, field trips and presentations was a huge task.

Here is a great example of the Institute’s attention to detail. Individual pictures were taken in those first few moments Sunday afternoon. On Monday evening, a group picture was taken on the steps of the State Library. By Tuesday afternoon, each participant was presented with a full-color SPLMI Directory that included all of these photos. And a month or so after returning to our libraries, each of us received a DVD in the mail with pictures from the entire week.

The SPLMI Committee gave a lot of credit for the orchestration of events to Mary Ellen McElligott, Conference Services Director at UI-Springfield. I give credit to all of the 2009 SPLMI Planning Committee for a beautifully organized and educational week.”

Any library interested in sending their director to the 17th Annual Small Public Management Institute should visit http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/whats_new/pdfs/2010splmi_description.pdf for an application. The deadline for applying is March 1 and the institute will be held at UIS on June 6 – 11. The theme for this year’s institute is “Serving your Public”.

Comments or questions about this article can be mailed to Kathy Roegge at roeggek@mls.lib.il.us.

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Published February 17, 2010 in vol. 4, iss. 4 [View]