Leadership at Every Level: Updates to BLC’s Leadership Development Programs in 2026

This year, BLC is strengthening leadership development across the consortium, with several new updates and opportunities in our leadership programming.

Since its launch in 2017, BLC Leads has been a cornerstone of BLC’s leadership development programming, creating a learning community of library leaders advancing collaborative action in the workplace and across our institutions. This program now supports more than 100 alumni as they expand their leadership skills, deepen peer networks, and accelerate their leadership journeys. As we look ahead, we’re excited to share how BLC’s leadership development offerings will evolve in 2026 to expand opportunities to our community and strengthen this work for the long term.

Introducing BLC Leads Pathways

In response to member feedback and growing interest in leadership development across all levels of the library workforce, BLC will launch BLC Leads Pathways in 2026. Designed for early career library workers and library support staff, Pathways is a new leadership training program inspired by BLC Leads.

Participants (up to 25) can expect:

• A hybrid learning experience with expert facilitators
• Regular online sessions focused on foundational leadership skills
• One in-person retreat for community-building and applied learning
• Opportunities for peer networking across institutions
  

Program fees:

• BLC member institutions: $2,750
• External institutions: $3,850
  

BLC is committed to making this opportunity accessible to all BLC member institutions, fostering a diverse community of leaders irrespective of their financial capacities. Recognizing that some institutions may encounter challenges in covering the full cost, the BLC Leads Fund was established to reduce the program fee for those who would otherwise be unable to participate in the program. The BLC Leads Fund will be available to Pathways participants.

More information regarding applications and program details will be announced at the 2026 BLC Forum. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to discuss institutional support for your participation with your supervisor(s).

BLC Leads 2027 

The BLC Leads 2025 cohort supported 21 fellows from 14 BLC institutions and three partner universities, marking the program’s first year open to individuals outside of BLC’s membership network. Through a combination of instruction, engagement with BLC leaders and alumni, small-group learning, and site visits over the course of six months, this program positions mid-level library professionals to scale their leadership responsibilities and grow their leadership skills within their current position. Upon completion, Fellows find continued support through a sustained community of over 100 alumni and a lifelong professional network of colleagues.

To create space for BLC Leads Pathways in our offerings, and to ensure BLC Leads continues to deliver exceptional value and meaningful peer learning, BLC Leads will not be offered in 2026. Applications will reopen in November 2026 for BLC Leads 2027 (June-November 2027). 

Sustaining BLC Mentors

BLC launched our mentorship pilot program, BLC Mentors, this past year. From April to December 2025, 16 participants across the consortium – 8 mentors and 8 mentees – engaged in 1:1 mentorship, offered peer support through cohort meetings, and attended two in-person retreats facilitated by mentoring experts at Brandeis University and Tufts University.

BLC Mentors is a structured mentorship program connecting experienced library leaders with mid-career professionals. Following a redesign this spring, BLC Mentors will join BLC’s suite of annually-offered leadership development programming and relaunch in the fall of 2026.

The 2026 BLC Mentors program fee is $450 for mentees. There is no program fee for mentors. The program fee includes meals during program activities, and supports instruction costs and program materials. The program fee does not include travel to and from the program locations. BLC is committed to making BLC Mentors accessible to all BLC member institutions, fostering a diverse community of mentees irrespective of their financial capacities. Institutions may apply to the BLC Mentors Fund to reduce the program fee for those who would otherwise be unable to participate in the program. BLC Mentors is not open to institutions outside BLC’s membership network.

A Leadership Development Continuum

Together, BLC Leads, BLC Leads Pathways, and BLC Mentors form a comprehensive leadership development continuum, supporting library workers from early career through senior leadership. Beginning in 2026, BLC will offer BLC Mentors every year and alternate BLC Leads Pathways and BLC Leads in subsequent years to strengthen program quality, broaden access, and deepen leadership capacity across the consortium.

We look forward to sharing more details in the coming months and continuing this work together to support the next generation of library leaders.

Questions? Email Cate Harriman, Program Manager of Learning and Development.