My Experience as a Bridge

he word “interim” means “an interval of time between one period or phase and another.” In many situations, an interim director or manager is someone who serves as a bridge, or “someone that provides a link, connection, or means of coming together.” I had the privilege of serving as interim director of my library system for six months. This appointment occurred two weeks after I completed the Virginia Library Leadership Academy. I entered my new role fresh with the many ideas and insights into good leadership that I had just learned at the academy. I am happy to report that I was able to apply much of the information presented by Dr. Robert Burgin, president of RB Software and Consulting Firm, who conducted the program. Though I lay no claim to being an expert on good leadership, I hope to share my thoughts and experiences and reinforce to myself the type of leader I strive to be. We are each surrounded by different circumstances and factors in our daily personal and professional lives. It is important for us to realize what our situations are; they may not be the best of all possibilities, but we have to accept them and move forward. No matter what we undertake, we must do the very best we can. Upon the retirement of the former director, I was appointed interim director of a library system of six locations, in addition to continuing as branch manager of one of the library branches. I quickly learned that being interim director involved more stress and difficulty than I had imagined. I am certainly no authority on leadership, and I have made and will continue to make my share of mistakes. But in looking back over my six months, I realize that I indeed gave it my best effort, and I look back proudly at the accomplishments and successes that I experienced. Now I’d like to share some of the things that I learned make for good leadership.