CONTACT: Clara Mae Marcotte

512-593-4143

AYALA-SCHUENEMAN ONE OF ONLY 21 NATIONWIDE

KINGSVILLE (September 9, 1998) -- María de Jesús Ayala-Schueneman, associate professor in the library at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, was selected as one of 21 participants nationwide to participate in the first Association of Research Libraries' Leadership and Career Development Program. Training in this program, funded by ARL and a Higher Education Title II-B grant, took place in February and May with the closing ceremony in June.

The program's goal is to increase the number of librarians from under-represented groups in positions of influence and leadership in libraries by helping them develop the skills needed to be more competitive in the promotion process.

As one component of the program, Ayala-Schueneman will conduct research on the examination of reference services as they relate to the Texas A&M-Kingsville faculty. A survey, distributed soon, will examine faculty needs, and knowledge and perceived quality of services.

In February all participants in the program met at Palm Beach for a five-day institute training for advanced leadership skills.

Further training took place in May in Escondido, Calif. Deans and directors of ARL libraries served as mentors to the group giving personalized advice and direction to the participants.

In June Ayala-Schueneman was one of the presenters at the program's closing ceremony in Washington, D.C., and has been invited by the program to return to Washington in October.

-TAMUK-