Librarian Leads LLAMAs

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 24, 2009) − Gail A. Kennedy, director of the University of Kentucky's Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library and Learning Center, has been elected vice president/president-elect of the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA) with more than 4,000 members.
 
"I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to play a leadership role in LLAMA," Kennedy said. "LLAMA faces the challenge, as do all professional organizations, of remaining relevant to members and developing new models of service. LLAMA has embraced this challenge, and I look forward to being a part of the progress ahead. In a time when strong leadership and management skills are indispensable, LLAMA will continue to grow as a vibrant community nurturing and supporting library leaders at all levels.”
 
LLAMA's mission is to encourage and nurture current and future library leaders, and to develop and promote outstanding leadership and management practices.
 
A member of LLAMA for 19 years, Kennedy received a master’s degree in library science from UK in 1974. Active in LLAMA’s Buildings and Equipment Section, Kennedy currently chairs the Interior Design Awards Committee and was a mentor for new librarians in LLAMA’s mentoring program. She has also served on LLAMA’s President’s Program, the joint Association of College and Research Libraries/LLAMA Interdivisional Committee on Building Resources, and chaired the Buildings and Equipment Section.
 
Kennedy began her term as vice president/president-elect of LLAMA in July 2009, at the close of the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.
 
At UK, Kennedy is the administrator of Little Library, which houses collections and services dealing with art, music and theater that are among the collections of UK Libraries. The library is also home to the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music.