Judy Calhoun
Southeast Arkansas Regional Library
Regional Director

Tell us about your experience leading a change in your library and/or in your community.
I have worked for the same regional library system for over 28 years, but it wasn’t until I became the assistant director that our region truly became a regional system. I have worked hard to make our nine branches function as one unit. Creating a procedure manual for the region, conducting region-wide workshops, and encouraging career development activities to utilize the talents, abilities, and resources of each staff member in support of organizational goals has been my proudest achievement.

What is your mentoring philosophy & style?
I have a high energy level and I love to motivate people about their libraries. I want the people who work in small and rural libraries to be excited about what they do in their communities. I am a verbal processor (I like to talk it out) so one on one mentoring works best for me and as someone with a woo personality, I am the encourager, the coach, the you-got-this person.

What else would you like a leadership mentee to know about you?
My commitment to my library system is to continue to grow new leadership by encouraging continuing education and providing opportunities for growth for branch managers and support staff. Leadership roles that I have held are: President of the Arkansas Library Association (ArLA), President of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL), as well as a member of the Arkansas Advocates for Public Libraries (AAPL). I have been actively involved with ArLA & ARSL conferences by serving on the awards committee, as vendor chair, as a presenter and as conference chair for two conferences. I hope to continue my involvement and in these organizations in whatever capacity they need and to encourage others to actively participate.

Areas of expertise
, Leading change in the library or the community, , , , ,