Back to Events

Administration and Management Section Meeting

Recurring Event
Next Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EDT)
Category: Group Meetings

Second Tuesday of the Month at 10am.

February: There will be no meeting in February due to the NJLA conference.
March 10: 
Presenter: Jennifer Nelson
Title: Intelligent Coaching
Description: A high degree of emotional intelligence is key to effective coaching. This session will outline the five components of emotional intelligence, how they show up in coaching, and how you can integrate them into your coaching practice using specific methods.
Bio: Jen Nelson joined the New Jersey State Library in February 2021 where she serves as State Librarian and advances the role of public libraries as a key partner in achieving digital equity. Her extensive experience in digital inclusion and digital equity includes a focus on the needs of teens, people seeking employment, people with disabilities, and people for whom English is a second language. Jen has more than 35 years of experience in libraries, working in a number of different capacities at the Minneapolis Public Library Public and Hennepin County libraries from 1988-2011. From 2013- 2021 she served as Minnesota’s state librarian, where she was honored by Governor Dayton with the Governor’s Award for Continuous Improvement in 2015. In addition to a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, she holds a master's degree in library and information studies, and a master's degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jen is the author of "Technology and Literacy: 21st Century Library Programming for Children and Teens" (ALA Editions, 2012).

May 12

Brief bio Maria Baratta, Director of the Research Library of the New Jersey State Library

Throughout her 40-year career in libraries, Maria has held a manager level position in each role she’s had.  She started in a small public library in PA, then moved on to over 38 years in New Jersey government agency libraries.  Those NJ government library positions include:

  • Manager of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Research Library
  • Chief of Research Services, NJ Attorney General’s Library
  • Associate Director of the Talking Book & Braille Center of the New Jersey State Library
  • Associate Director and now Director of the Research Library of the State Library (formerly called the State Library Information Center). 

She has supervised union-presented staff in each position in New Jersey and has experience with disciplinary hearings between management and union represented employees.

In her current role, she has responded to multiple Open Public Records requests that come to the New Jersey State Library and has consulted with the counsel’s office of Thomas Edison State University regarding complex OPRA requests.  The University is the administrating agency for the State Library.

===================================================

Brief session overview

Managing a union grievance doesn’t always have to be a contentious process.  Understanding the root causes of grievances and what you as a manager can and cannot do will help you navigate most situations.

When dealing with an OPRA (Open Public Records Act) request, it is important to understand what constitutes a ‘record,’ when and what types of redactions are appropriate, how to craft an appropriate response, and when it is time to seek legal counsel.

For More Information:

Andrew Brenza

Gloucester County Library System

View Profile