(above) Jodi Silverman, North Plainfield’s young adult and adult librarian, is one of 50 librarians in the nation selected to the American Library Association Emerging Leaders program.
NP Librarian Selected for National Leadership Program
Submitted by Tracy Carney
Jodi Silverman, North Plainfield Memorial Library’s young adult and adult librarian, is one of 50 librarians in the nation selected to the American Library Association (ALA) Emerging Leaders (EL) program. This leadership development program enables library workers from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, and gain leadership experience.
“I am thrilled to be accepted into the 2020 ALA Emerging Leaders program,” said Silverman. “This program is highly competitive, and to be accepted into this year’s cohort and to be sponsored by Public Library Association (PLA) is an amazing honor. My passion for public librarianship stems from a desire to promote equitable access for all, and by taking part in the Emerging Leaders program, I have the opportunity to help shape how libraries connect with diverse populations at a national level.”
Silverman will be working with a team focusing on a resource that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion for staff development. This resource will include best practices for serving people with disabilities and more.
“This project allows me to work with like-minded individuals, promote inclusive best practices, and provide a valuable resource to my colleagues,” said Silverman. “At SCLSNJ one of our core services is to address the needs of the shifting demographics. Serving people with disabilities to the best of our capabilities falls in direct alignment with that goal.”
“Jodi’s acceptance into the American Library Association’s 2020 class of Emerging Leaders is an amazing opportunity to learn from and share ideas with library thought leaders from around the country,” said Christal Blue, branch manager. “She breathed new life into teen services upon her arrival at the North Plainfield branch by enthusiastically connecting with the local community and working hard to develop innovative programs and services to help teens connect, explore, share, and discover. I’m looking forward to seeing her continued development as a library leader and the new ideas that she is sure to bring back to SCLSNJ.”
Silverman is the young adult and adult librarian for SCLSNJ’s North Plainfield Memorial branch. She is passionate about designing innovative and engaging social emotional learning programs for teens and emerging adults, promoting inclusionary best practices at a local and national level, and fostering adaptive and comprehensive library services for individuals with disabilities and other diverse populations.
To learn more about the Emerging Leaders program, visitala.org/educationcareers/leadership/emergingleaders.
About Somerset County Library System of New Jersey
Somerset County Library System of New Jersey (SCLSNJ) partners with you to connect, to explore, to share and to discover. Together we enrich lives, expand knowledge and strengthen communities. SCLSNJ branches can be found in Bridgewater, Bound Brook, Hillsborough, Manville, North Plainfield, Peapack & Gladstone, Rocky Hill at Mary Jacobs Memorial Library, Somerville, Warren Township, and Watchung. Additionally, there are two SCLSNJ reading stations in Branchburg and Washington Valley. Visit SCLSNJ.org.
