Associate Librarian, Director of Access & User Services
Stony Brook University
Professional development is an important part of one’s career but it is often treated as an afterthought, something that is taken advantage of if/when we have the time and money. A well thought-out professional development plan can be a valuable tool in career management and planning, setting oneself up on a successful career path and for advancement. / Creating a professional development plan involves self-reflection, identifying career goals, strategizing about how to meet those goals, and taking advantage of workshops, courses, and other professional development opportunities. This process helps elevate the importance of development and continuing education in the long list of competing priorities in our day-to-day responsibilities. A professional development plan encourages regular review of goals and objectives and active engagement in identifying opportunities to support one’s career. / This lightning talk will outline the steps to creating and maintaining a professional development plan and include examples of methods that can be used to track progress.