In the summer of 2017, the staff of Ladd Library and Muskie Archives at Bates College embarked upon a semester-long, bi-weekly reading group. Facing the upcoming search for new leadership, we spent the Fall 2017 semester discussing a broad array of topics relevant to the profession as a whole and what we might consider for our own future. We continued our group into the next semester on a monthly basis with a second series of topics and discussions. Throughout, we asked all participants to engage with a growth mindset and set down rules to push the conversation beyond \u201cthis is the way we\u2019ve always done it\u201d as a justification against change.<\/p>\n
After the initial success of the first year-long reading group, and in response to the feedback received, we moved forward with a new model for the 2018-19 academic year. We opened the reading group model to include webinars and special training. This remix has us focused both on our own institutional culture and the services we provide. We’ve expanded the program to include outside partners in information technology and accessible education.<\/p>\n
See our topics, readings lists, and discussion questions as follows:<\/p>\n
Ladd Looking Forward: A Reading Group<\/a><\/p>\n