2027 PLA Leadership Academy
Apply for PLA Leadership Academy
“To this day, the PLA Leadership Academy remains one of the most informative and impactful experiences in my professional development. You’ll meet library leaders from across the country who will stay connected with you throughout your career. This is your time. It is time to think long-term about your impact and your guiding north star as a leader in our field. Opportunities like this are rare, so seize the chance!”
—Deb Sica, County Librarian, Alameda (CA) County Library, 2017 alum
Selection Criteria
To be eligible for the PLA Leadership Academy, a candidate must demonstrate:
- Current employment at a public library
- At least five years’ experience working in public libraries
- A history of increasing responsibility in their roles
- Residency in one of the 50 states and Washington, DC, or a US territory
- Current PLA membership (Become a Member or Renew Your Membership)
- A willingness to engage in deep, rigorous, and respectful open exchange
- A proven commitment to the field, as illustrated through their career or volunteer leadership
- A compelling vision for how participation will support a meaningful and impactful next step for the individual and the field
- A commitment to active participation in a community of leaders following the in-person training
Application Materials
All application materials must be received by October 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central. Please continue reading for detailed instructions on how to apply.
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Application
To apply for the Leadership Academy, go to https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=AMALA.
PREVIEW APPLICATION QUESTIONS (PDF)
You will need a Foundant account to complete an application (registration is free). Note, your login details are separate from your ALA/PLA membership credentials. Select “Create Account” under the login information prompt, and you’ll be taken to the Foundant Account Creation page. Registration in Foundant calls for information about yourself, your institution, and your executive officer. Once you have completed registration and created your account (which takes about 5 minutes), you will be taken to our program application page, where you can click the "Apply" button for this opportunity.
Please email plaacademy@ala.org if you need assistance.
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Letter of Recommendation
A letter of recommendation from a supervisor, colleague, or partner describing your qualifications, strengths, and leadership potential. Upload a PDF file to your application in Foundant.
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Letter of Endorsement
A letter of endorsement from your current library leadership describing how the library will continue to support your leadership development, post-Academy (If you are a library director, a letter from your Board or from a state library agency or consortium would be acceptable.) Upload a PDF file to your application in Foundant.
The letters of recommendation must be received by the October 19 deadline. An application is considered incomplete until all letters of recommendation are received.
Each application that meets the above requirements will be reviewed by seasoned library leaders who will evaluate the quality of your application and letters of recommendation using a shared criterion.
A Note on AI
While generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used for initial research, brainstorming, or early drafts of your PLA Leadership Academy Application, we ask that your final submission represents your own, original work.
Acceptance
Selected applicants will be notified by email on or before November 16. To secure a spot in the academy, accepted individuals will be required to review and agree to terms of participation by December 7.
