 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Miriam Pollack has over 30 years of experience working in non-profit organizations, public and special libraries, library systems, and library education programs. A consultant, planner, leader, and teacher, she is known for her skills in innovative thinking, creative project and service development, and assisting organizations in embracing change. Ms. Pollack is a results-oriented facilitator with cost-effective solutions.
Ms. Pollack works closely with non-profit organization staff, library staff and trustees to help them identify their preferred future. She is an expert in discovering innovative and practical responses to opportunities and challenges. A goal of her method is improving individual and organizational effectiveness and partnering within and outside of the organization. She designs and develops powerful solutions to library issues ranging from comprehensive staff development analysis to return-on-investment or impact studies of library services and expenditures.
Ms. Pollack is the recipient of the American Library Association 2003 Margaret E. Monroe Award for significant contributions to adult library services, and the Illinois Library Association Reaching Forward Special Recognition Award for support of staff development. She has a BA in Education from the University of Illinois Chicago, an MA in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an MA in Human Resource Development from Northeastern Illinois University.
Results-oriented accomplishments are a hallmark of Ms. Pollack's creative and energetic approach to problem solving and professional development.
Judy Card was Staff Development Officer at the Memphis and Shelby County Public Library in Memphis , Tennessee from 1982 to her retirement in 2002. She was responsible for planning and implementing training for staff of 500 plus. Before that position she was the Adult Literacy Project Coordinator and managed the main library children’s department. Judy has an MLS from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Mel Hirsch has over 20 years experience in solid hands-on project management in the financial and retail industries. He is excellent at translating those skills for the non-profit world, assisting organizations in developing practical approaches to both large and small projects. He has strong teamwork and interpersonal skills at all management levels and is a dynamic decision maker with the ability to deal with complex environments.
An independent consultant since 2003, Mr. Hirsch has served as Director of Enterprise Systems for TruServ Corporation - True Value Hardware and Division Manager and Vice President for International Systems at Continental Bank. Mel has a BS in Computer Science from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
David P. Ley is a consultant in the design and delivery of HIV, mental health and substance abuse services. He has developed his expertise through twenty-five years of experience as an educator, therapist, and program manager and brings to policy and administrative discussions a clear analysis and articulation of the complexities of clinical service delivery. He has helped organizations identify consumer and staff needs, develop strategic plans, secure funding and solve clinical and programmatic problems. He has designed and written proposals bringing over 50 million dollars to public and private agencies.Clients have included the Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA and SAMHA), the Chicago Department of Health, Erie Family Health Center , the Alliance for Community Empowerment, Renaissance Social Services, the Community Outreach Intervention Project, The Police Assistance Center and The Northeast Illinois HIV Case Management Cooperative.
Tina Roose has over 30 years of experience working in public libraries and with library systems. She has participated in many planning processes, most recently collaborating to produce a new strategic plan for the five county Timberland Regional Library in Olympia , Washington . During more than 10 years as Deputy Director at Timberland, Tina conducted needs assessments; recommended service levels, priorities, goals and objectives; recommended service delivery options; created phased work plans with timelines and performance measures; identified budget implications of proposed plans; and recommended funding strategies for plans. Tina has extensive experience in and is committed to collaborative processes in both planning and delivery of services.
Tina knows the public library community in Washington State . While at Timberland, she met regularly to share ideas, issues and concerns with deputy directors and public service heads of public libraries throughout the state. She also participated in developing and maintaining partnerships and other relationships with a range of community and government organizations and individuals.
In prior positions and with her own consulting business, Roose Research, Tina consulted for many individual libraries as well as library systems and the Illinois State Library. She has made presentations at national, state and local conferences as well as in community settings. When Director of Reference and the Automation Consultant for the North Suburban Library System ( Illinois ), she worked closely and collaboratively with Miriam Pollack . Together they have done research, analysis, planning, grant writing, facilitating, and presenting.
Tina has a BA in English from Kalamazoo College and an MA in Library Science from the University of Minnesota.
Larry Rosenthal has 30 years' experience as a senior association executive. His areas of expertise include member and community surveys, strategic and business planning, strategic plan implementation, association governance, organizational structure, information systems development, convention and meeting management, financial management, and educational program development. Larry has served as a facilitator for state, regional, national and international organizations.
Larry's core competency that he brings to all of his work is his ability to review and observe what appears to be unrelated, possibly conflicting activities and to discern potential commonality and relationship where none may be apparent. Then working with the client, he helps structure the apparently disparate components into a related systematic functioning activity.
Karen’s experience, from Fortune 500 corporations to public service institutions, gives her the insight and unique ability to bring the latest organizational, process, and management ideas to every client she serves.
By using creativity, discovery and consensus-building tools, Karen helps her clients turn vision into reality. She has successfully facilitated many strategic planning, long range planning, team building, focus group and decision-making sessions. She also specializes in conducting needs assessments, as well as designing, developing and facilitating personal and organizational development seminars and workshops. Some of her sample topics include Strategic Planning and Appreciative Inquiry, Training Design in a Day, Confronting Conflict for Positive Results, Communicating with Confidence, Customer Service, Difficult Situation Management, Change Management, Environmental Scanning, Success and Facilitation, Team Dynamics/Team Building, Taking Charge, Lighting the Fire, Mentoring, Problem Solving, Manager's Toolkit for Team and Committee Work, Managing Negativity, Motivation and Team Building, Presentation Skills, Negotiation, and Conducting Powerful Meetings.
Karen holds a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Instructional Technology and has been working in the fields of training, facilitation, and organizational development for over 20 years. Some of Karen’s recent clients include Accenture, Ameritech, Amoco, Argonne National Labs, Baxter Pharmaceutical, Boston Market, Boston Scientific, Capsonic Group, Cobra Electronics, Illinois Benedictine University, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Management Association of Illinois, McDonald's, Nestle, T-Mobile, United Airlines, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the YMCA. Additionally, Karen has worked with the American Library Association, Illinois Library Association, and the Illinois State Library. She also works with several school districts, over 10 library systems, and over 20 public libraries.
Library Associates Companies (LAC), a woman-owned business with over 200 employees, was founded in 1986 by Deborah Schwarz, its current owner and CEO. With offices in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. (Rockville), LA specializes in consulting, staffing and outsourcing of information management functions and positions. From libraries to digital asset management, LA brings the experience, knowledge and expertise to manage and/or staff information management functions and operations in the private sector and for government agencies.