Library Instruction Leadership Academy

The Library Instruction Leadership Academy (LILAC) is a collaborative project developed by librarians at SUNY Geneseo, the College at Brockport-State University of New York, Monroe Community College, Genesee Community College, St. John Fisher College, Fairport Central School District, Pittsford Central School District, University of Rochester and the Rochester Regional Library Council. It is funded in part by a grant from the Harold Hacker Fund for the Advancement of Libraries. Since library instruction is an essential component of many library positions and few library degree programs require coursework in information literacy instruction, the goal of LILAC is to fill this gap for librarians currently working in RRLC member libraries.

The Academy is a semester-long intensive learning experience including a variety of workshops, field observations, assigned readings, reflection, discussions, and a final instruction project. It is intended for newer instruction librarians who would like to become more effective in the classroom. This innovative endeavor will create a learning community where participants and mentors build strong relationships, and where group members will continue to learn from each other well beyond the timeline of the Academy.

• Participants will demonstrate an understanding and implementation of best practices in classroom pedagogy.
• Participants will exhibit a growing understanding of the ways an instruction librarian approaches preparation and presentation of classroom materials.
• Participants will demonstrate greater confidence in their teaching methodology, especially as it pertains to risk taking, creativity and interaction with students.
• Participants and their mentors will create a learning community where they build strong relationships and continue to learn from each other well beyond the timeline of the Academy.
• Participants will be encouraged to disseminate their learning through national, state and regional conference presentations/workshops and publications in library and educational journals.