[Asis-l] Leslie Burger, Founding Partner of Library Development Solutions, Speaks at Beta Phi Mu, Omicron Chapter Annual Meeting, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

[BRENDA SHERIDAN]

*Leslie Burger, Founding Partner of Library Development Solutions, Speaks
at Beta Phi Mu, Omicron Chapter Annual Meeting, Rutgers,The State
University of New Jersey*



Earlier this month, the Omicron Chapter of Beta Phi Mu, Rutgers University,
<http://wp.comminfo.rutgers.edu/betaphimuomicron/> held its annual chapter
meeting at the Rutgers Club in New Brunswick, with Leslie Burger speaking
on leadership in the library and information science industry.



Kicking off the event, Omicron scholarship awards were presented to Helen
Busness and Carla Harwood, two current Master of Information students. A
ceremony for new initiates and a business meeting to discuss chapter
updates followed the awards. New officers for the chapter are Jen Hunter,
President; Melody Townley, Vice President/President-elect; Cassidy Charles,
Treasurer; and Meaghan Darling, Secretary. New initiates for 2016
are William Bejarano, Jennifer Bigioni, Melissa Ciotti, John
Daquino, Kathleen DiGiulio, Genevieve Hewson, Manuel Jusino, Amanpreet
Kaur, Elizabeth Lien, Kristin Lepping, Anne Lonergan, Lisa Nazzaro,
and Khusboo Rana.



                    The highlight of the event was a presentation entitled
“Wonder. Risk. Imagine: (Almost) Everything You Need to Know to be a
Successful Library Leader” given by Leslie Burger, founding partner of
Library Development Solutions, a New York based consulting firm founded in
1991. Focusing on developing the qualities of a leader in the LIS industry,
Burger explained her decision for the title of her speech. “The inspiration
for this talk came from Robert Barry, a conceptual artist, who has the
cornerstone installation at the Princeton Public Library. The words inscribed
on the cornerstone are: Wonder. Risk. Imagine. Explore. Doubt.

Possible. Change. Question. Hope,” Burger said. “These simple words can
apply to many aspects of life. I want to use them in the context of
leadership and how they can guide you throughout your library career.”



Burger gave several practical tips on effective leadership including the
importance to think competitively and creatively, listen to what others
have to say, never stop learning, lead by example, and be passionate about
libraries. “As an employer I am primarily looking for two things - attitude
and a broad understanding of the role libraries play in our society. I’ll
teach you everything else you need to know on the job, that’s the easy
stuff. But I want librarians who are leaders, thinkers,” Burger said.



Burger has 42 years of experience in the LIS field, which included her
position as the executive director of the Princeton Public Library where
she helped plan, design and secure the funding required for a new 55,000
square foot library that opened in 2004. Over the past year and a half, she
has spearheaded the effort for Princeton’s 2-Reimagine project including
design, funding and rallying support from the community. Leslie is also an
adjunct faculty member atRutgers School of Communication and Information
(SC&I <https://comminfo.rutgers.edu/>), teaching management and leadership
in the Library and Information Science concentration within SC&I’s new Master
of Information program.
<https://comminfo.rutgers.edu/mi/master-of-information.html>



Beta Phi Mu <http://beta-phi-mu.org/> was founded in 1948 at the University
of Illinois by a group of leading librarians and library educators, and the
Omicron Chapter was started at Rutgers in 1970 by two PhD students. Bill
Summers, one of the chapter founders, went on to become the Dean of the
Library School at Florida State and Executive Director of Beta Phi Mu.

-- 
Brenda Sheridan, EdD
Director of Strategic Communications
Office of the Dean
School of Communication and Information
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
4 Huntington Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

p: 848-932-7078
f:  732-932-6916
c: 856-261-0089

brenda.sheridan at rutgers.edu