The Developing Leaders Program’s mission is to connect, educate, and empower rising leaders in the library profession. This comprehensive program, running from February to June, is tailored for library professionals with a minimum of three years of experience looking to explore and strengthen their leadership skills.
This year NYLA has shifted the start to coincide with Pre-Advocacy Day. The Kick-Off session will be in person on February 2, 2026 at the State Library. Participants will have a full day of programming, networking, and the opportunity to come to Advocacy Day the following day. Along with the in-person Kick-Off session the program consists of 12 live virtual sessions via Zoom and an in-person final presentation day in June.
Session topics include: Communication Skills, Project & Time Management, Advocacy, Change Management, Partnerships & Collaborations, among others!
Applications for the 2026 cohort are open now at https://www.nyla.org/developing-leaders-program. The application deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026. Applicants will need to submit a resume, letter of interest, and one professional reference.
