Leslie Purdie selected as RUSA’s 2019 Emerging Leader

RUSA is pleased to announce that Leslie Purdie has been selected as our 2019 Emerging Leader! Leslie is Librarian at Folsom State Prison.

ALA’s Emerging Leader Program is designed to enable library staff and information workers to participate in project planning work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity early in their careers.

When Leslie applied to ALA’s Emerging Leader Program she was a Library Technical Assistant but since has been promoted to her current position of Librarian at Folsom State Prison. Leslie graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology. She is currently a student at the San Jose State University iSchool.

Leslie wants to use this experience to further herself in her career. She stated, “I applied to the Emerging Leaders program because I wanted the opportunity to collaborate with peers from diverse professional backgrounds. I am excited to meet others who are enthusiastic about the future of library services and to learn new skills that will benefit me in my career as a prison librarian.”