I have had a little time to get to know my new POW (Place of Work) and its history, but so far I’ve really just scratched the surface. Obviously, one can’t come into a hundred year old institution and understand everything that is happening and why things have happened in the space of a few days.

But what I can speak to is my own personal feelings. I could not be more happy making the change. Beyond the fact that yes– I am in a position where I have the authority to start implementing and exploring fun new developments, and I certainly have a better salary, I am just so happy about the organization itself. I feel so much more encouraged and appreciated in this organization than before. That’s huge.

Now, we’re not perfect– today I was very disheartened to hear a woman say in a meeting that many people didn’t feel “safe” in the organization right now. They are unsure what they are allowed to say, and if their voices would be welcome. Others are unsure what they are allowed to do. One of the things that has been mentioned to me in the last few weeks is that when people have had no empowerment for a long time, suddenly gaining freedom is a little bit scary.

But it’s a great place to be. With a little time, and a lot of respect, people’s best can be drawn out. I look forward to whatever contributions I can make to that end. To those who are unsure if they *really* can exercise their freedom, if they really can use their voice, if they really can invest in creating a better experience for our community– I say, “please, let’s have a conversation”. I want to hear your voice. I want to draw from your experience, your insight, your intelligence. Let’s not be afraid to hope and dream together….. and let’s not be afraid to make it real.

I’m extremely pleased to report that I have been offered, and accepted, the Library Innovation and Technology Manager position at the Boulder Public Library. I’ve been kind of quiet for the last month or two because I’ve been preparing for, presenting/interviewing for, and just generally concentrating on this.

The new director at BPL and I share an ambitious vision of what libraries can and should be and are very excited to begin working together toward those goals. I’ll be working with the local Boulder technology scene to create a learning laboratory supporting the creative expression of the staff and community.

We will also be implementing programs to address the digital divide, which I see as more a compelling problem than ever as our job market is not only tightening, but requiring a greater range of technical skills. There are still so many without easy access to computers or the training needed to use even the most common software packages on the job.

An interesting thing about this opportunity is that it really highlights the leadership-management differences we discussed in the recent CAL Leadership Institute. During the interview I asked for clarification on this point and it was stressed that this was *leadership* position in which they were looking for vision, much more so than a management position in which I was to maintain the status quo. That is the most exciting thing about the job!

Here’s to an exciting new year!  I’ll be writing more about what’s coming later….