LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 2026

Are you looking for the skills that will take you to that next level of leadership?

Library leaders are constantly managing teams of staff, volunteers, trustees, and others. It takes dedicated leadership to turn these groups into one cohesive team striving for a single vision. The Michigan Library Association’s Leadership Academy has a strong history of providing leadership training to librarians across the state and offers the kind of information you wish you could have learned library school. In the process, you will develop a cohort of colleagues from across the state to call on for support and inspiration as you navigate your way throughout your career. A variety of topics are presented over five in-person days and three Zoom meetings, and cover everything from leadership fundamentals to successfully managing the politics inherent in every library position. Sessions are presented by leadership coaches as well as respected library directors, advocates, and legal experts.

Join the 2026 Leadership Academy cohort to expand your knowledge base on leadership skills such as emotional intelligence, communication, managing change, teamwork, and coaching. Understand your strengths and weaknesses as a leader, as well as more library specific information about finance, legislation and advocacy, media, and working effectively with a board of directors.

The 2026 cohort will begin in April and conclude at the 2026 MLA Annual Conference. Registration includes meals during in-person meetings as well as hotel accommodations.

Each cohort is limited to 30 people and only offered once every two years so don’t miss your chance to participate!

Register

Tuition Rates

Registration includes a 50% discount on registration to the MLA 2026 Annual Conference October 28-30 at the Vibe Credit Union Showplace in Novi. Member type pricing will apply to the Annual Conference registration.

Member pricing is dependent upon affiliated or unaffiliated individual membership status. Organizational membership is not applicable. In order to receive the discounted member price, individual membership must be current at the time of registration and maintained throughout the entire 2026 MLA Leadership Academy program. No refunds will be given for uncompleted programs and sessions are not available on an a la carte basis.

Register

2026 Leadership Academy Schedule

*Session schedule subject to change

Tuesday, April 14

Lansing Downtown Courtyard, Lansing
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Session Includes: Continental breakfast, lunch, evening networking event, overnight accommodations at the Lansing Downtown Courtyard

Welcome Session and Introductions
Before we dive into Leadership Academy we’ll take some time to get to know each other and learn some of the key strengths we share as leaders.

Communication and DiSC Assessment
Great leaders communicate clearly and effectively with all people in a variety of situations. Participants will take a communication assessment and learn new strategies for creating and building positive relationships and communicating more effectively.

This highly interactive session helps participants explore the dimensions of managing to the next level for themselves and others. This program will provide you with a strong foundation of tools and skills to help you understand yourself and your team and how to work more effectively in your crucial capacity as a role model. This program will also include skill practice and experiential activities and hands-on learning opportunities.

Managing Conflict
You might be tempted to steer clear of workplace drama and let employees work things out on their own, this kind of hands-off approach can backfire. Explore better strategies to resolve disputes while taking a deeper look at the role conflict plays in the workplace, the signs to recognize conflict and strategies for getting the team back on track.

Welcome Reception
Leadership Academy students are invited to an evening of food, fun and networking. Details to come!

Wednesday, April 15

Lansing Downtown Courtyard, Lansing
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Session Includes: Breakfast and lunch

Emotional Intelligence and Agile EQ
The ability to express and control our own emotions is important, but so is our ability to understand, interpret, and respond to the emotions of others. Imagine a world where you couldn’t understand when a friend was feeling sad or when a co-worker was angry. Psychologists refer to this ability as emotional intelligence and some experts even suggest that it can be more important than IQ. Learn more about exactly what emotional intelligence is, how it works and how it is measured.

Tuesday, May 12

ZOOM Meeting
10:00 – 11:30 AM

Advocacy and Legislation
Understanding basic advocacy and how to and when to contact your elected officials is critical in promoting your library. Being effective in this kind of politics can often mean the difference between success and failure. Learn firsthand what is happening in Lansing and how you can make a difference.

Intellectual Freedom
Understanding the principles of intellectual freedom and the right to read is critical to the mission of libraries. Today’s challenges require library leaders to be prepared, informed, and confident in their responses. Learn how you can best ensure access, uphold professional values, and support your community and staff when issues arise.

Wednesday, June 10

Hoyt Main Branch, Public Libraries of Saginaw, Saginaw
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Session Includes: Continental breakfast and lunch

Coaching for Success!
Having successful coaching conversations with others defines your leadership ability and success in influencing. The focus is on effectively listening to what others are really saying, asking the right questions without judgment and probing for clarity to get others to become open-minded and view options with clarity. Use encouragement and development feedback to reinforce and guide successful performance to improve individual and your department’s morale, motivation and productivity. Through discussion and case studies you will map an action plan to help develop your leadership skills.

Changing Mindsets to Manage Change
Change is constant in libraries, and how we approach it shapes our success. This session explores the change cycle and how mindset, language, and perspective influence our ability to navigate uncertainty. Participants will consider resilience, identify areas of control and influence, and reflect on strategies that support positive and effective responses to change.

Tuesday, July 14

ZOOM Meeting
1:00 – 2:30 PM

Library Finance
Comprehensive budgeting, sound financial management, and reporting are cornerstones of a healthy bottom line. Responsible and transparent fiscal management means knowing how to develop a budget but also how to manage and update it. With this session, you will increase your financial awareness from the professionals and receive feedback from a library professional on implementing these tools in the real world.

Wednesday, August 12

KDL Service and Meeting Center, Grand Rapids
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Session Includes: Continental breakfast and lunch

Communications and Public Relations
As a library leader it is important to mold and shape your library’s image and brand, especially when you only have a moment to respond to a news incident. This session will describe how to conduct an audit of your library’s communications, dialing in on your brand promise, and the important framework for crisis communications.

Law and Legal Issues
Like any public entity, public libraries have multiple legal considerations. But toss in the additional constitutional and establishment issues, and you have a unique legal environment. Participants will learn some common legal issues that occur in libraries and how it can be applied to their unique situations.

Wednesday, September 9

ZOOM Meeting
10:00 – 11:30 AM

Working with Boards
Research shows that high-performing boards require a staff who can effectively support a strategic board. The session of Leadership Academy will cover effective agenda planning, time and meeting management, tips on keeping the board focused on the agenda, and effective facilitation tips.

Tuesday, October 27

Vibe Credit Union Showplace, Novi
10:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Session Includes: Continental breakfast, lunch, evening reception, overnight accommodations at the Hyatt Place Novi

Time and Stress Management
Tips and techniques will be shared for how to effectively cope and manage emotions so that you can make the best out of each and every day.

Teamwork
Together Everyone Accomplishes More! Strengthen your teamwork and optimize productivity throughout your library. When employees are engaged they are more committed. In this session, you will learn how to work together cohesively. You will explore how to motivate, engage and retain employees.

Wednesday, October 28

Vibe Credit Union Showplace, Novi
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Session Includes: Breakfast

Graduation Breakfast
Leadership Academy students are invited to a private breakfast before the start of the MLA 2026 Annual Conference to celebrate how far they’ve come on their leadership journey!

Event Policies

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations for MLA in-person and hybrid events (including the annual conference, if virtual) must be received in writing by e-mail no later than ten (10) business days prior to the program in order to qualify for a refund. Within ten (10) business days of the event, no refund will be issued. Registrations received within ten (10) days of the program are not eligible for a refund. No-shows will be invoiced.

A $150.00 cancellation fee will be applied to refunds for this workshop.

If an MLA professional development workshop, conference, webinar, or other training session is cancelled due to low registration or inclement weather, participants will be notified and fees, if applicable, will be refunded.

Consent

Registration and attendance at, or participation in, MLA meetings or other activities constitutes an agreement by the registrant to the use and distribution of the registrants or attendees' image or voice in photographs, videotapes, electronic reproductions of such events and activities by MLA. Please contact MLA at [email protected] if you'd like to be removed from any list. 

Code of Conduct

Download the complete Code of Conduct (pdf)

MLA’s vision is to be a highly effective, trusted network of libraries, library employees, trustees, friends and supporters working together to support and promote the highest quality library services throughout Michigan. To fulfill our vision, MLA has built, and is dedicated to maintaining, an inclusive and equitable community where all people can come together to advance our shared vision.

MLA is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all participants and MLA staff. Each participant, including attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, staff, and service providers, is expected to understand and follow MLA policies and report any violations. These expectations apply to all MLA activities (whether virtual or in-person), including but not limited to those held in conjunction with conferences, events, and meetings. Any conduct that is prohibited in-person is also prohibited online, including but not limited to on MLA social media pages and other online platforms. 

Health and Safety Guidelines

We ask you to be courteous and conscientious of others while meeting in-person at the event, especially when it comes to health and safety.

Common Allergens

MLA will make every effort to ensure that provided meals are free of any declared allergens. Please ensure you have alerted MLA staff to any allergies you may have. If you have emergency medications, such as an EpiPen, please carry it with you during the conference.

Although we always aim to work with you to provide a safe and comfortable conference, we cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free event or prevent others from bringing potential allergens to the event. Conference attendees and exhibitors are asked to refrain from bringing, distributing, and consuming products containing peanuts and other nuts at the conference.

Leadership Academy Archives

Leadership Academy 2024

Leadership Academy 2022

Leadership Academy 2020