NYLA Developing Leaders Program 

The Developing Leaders Program’s mission is to connect, educate, and empower rising leaders in the library profession. This comprehensive six-month program, running from January to June, is tailored for library professionals with a minimum of three years of experience looking to explore and strengthen their leadership skills

Who Should Attend

The Developing Leaders Program (DLP) is seeking dedicated individuals ready to take the next step in their careers by gaining insights from established library leaders, building relationships with fellow aspiring leaders, and expanding their statewide network.

DLP participants have the opportunity to:

• Develop the confidence and skills to effectively navigate daily challenges as a new leader or manager.

• Build and strengthen a professional network to access ideas, support, and partnerships.

• Effectively and innovatively address macro and micro issues within the New York State library community through collaborative efforts.

The DLP is limited to 30 participants. Library professionals from every type of library are encouraged to apply.

Sessions

The program consists of two in-person sessions and 11 live virtual sessions via Zoom. The Kick-off and Capstone sessions are held in-person in Albany, NY. Session topics include: Communication Skills, Project & Time Management, Advocacy, Change Management, Partnerships & Collaborations, among others!

Upon completing the DLP participants will receive 50 contact hours. 
The hours are broken down into:
36 hours for DLP sessions (in person & online)
14 hours for Capstone Project 

Attendance at all sessions is mandatory; however, we acknowledge that emergencies may arise.

Capstone Project

The Capstone Project serves as a practical incubator for DLP participants to refine their leadership skills. Participants are organized into teams of 3-6 people and each team is assigned an advisor. 

Past projects include:

• Case study on how story time participation was increased among immigrant communities at a specific library. 

• Creating a system to replicate an exemplary partnership between a public and school library.

• Facilitating a professional development program exploring the best practices and strategies to raise the profile of an academic library. 

The Capstone project is presented in-person, by all team members at the final DLP session in June. 

2026 Schedule

Networking

A strong professional network is an invaluable asset for any leader. As a DLP participant, you will have multiple opportunities to engage with fellow cohort members, team advisors, program facilitators, and individuals listed in the DLP Network Directory. We acknowledge that building connections can be particularly challenging in a virtual environment. Therefore, we encourage participants to proactively ask questions, reach out to others, and take the initiative to be the first to contribute during program sessions, group activities, or independently.

Tuition

Tuition is $650.
This includes all DLP sessions and program materials.
The cost does not include participant travel or lodging.

Cancellation Policy

Applicants that are accepted into a cohort will be provided a payment form to finalize their registration fee by a designated deadline. As this program has a limited number of accepted participants, cancellation with a full refund will only be provided until the payment deadline noted for each cohort. A cancellation request must be emailed by the participant to [email protected] by the payment deadline. No refunds will be given past the deadline date. 

Application Timeline

Applications for the 2026 cohort will open the week of November 24, 2025. The application deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026. Applicants will need to submit a resume, letter of interest, and one professional reference.

Questions?
Contact NYLA Director of Communications & Member Engagement at [email protected].

Past Cohorts

2025 Cohort

2024 Cohort

2022-2023 Cohort

2020-2021 Cohort

2019-2020 Inaugural Cohort