Saturday’s “Leading Technical Services in 2011” session from ALCTS gathered respected professionals in technical services to hear what they have to say about leadership in today’s climate.

Escape Reality, Read Fiction blogger Marlene Harris spoke highly of saying “yes!” to new experiences and embracing change. Anne McKee of the Greater Western Library Alliance Consortia encouraged audience members to seek out ways to get more involved with the profession by volunteering, attending committee meetings, and working closely with vendors. Peggy Johnson of the University of Minnesota advocated for finding role models, exploring new ideas, and taking risks.

While we’ve heard these concepts before, yesterday’s program reminds us that the fundamentals of leadership don’t need to change drastically, despite the fast-paced transformations occurring in technical services. We have always needed mentors, involvement, and confidence to say “yes” to challenges—and perhaps we need that now more than ever.