Posts by Stefanie Buck

December 9, 2025

LPC members can now sign up for the 2026 LPC Connections program!

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Welcome to the LPC Connections! Once again, the LPC Professional Development committee invites you to participate in the LPC Connections program. The program is open to all LPC member institutions and welcomes both newcomers and those who have participated previously.

Last year (2025), we piloted the new Connections Program where each month participants were matched with a new partner. Based on your feedback, we are going to modify things a bit this year (hey, that’s why we called it a pilot!) and create small group rotations. You and your connections will meet up to three times to learn from each other about library publishing (optional conversation starters will be provided), and then in the next rotation you’ll do it again with new connections! In some cases, you might really click with your connections and schedule additional meetings—it’s all up to you! Please note that while we will try to limit overlap/recurring pairings, participants will occasionally meet with the same person(s) more than once.

The Connections Program will run from February – December 2026, with mid-year and end-of-year check-ins where we will receive feedback from all participants.

What you need to do:

The LPC Professional Development Committee is committed to the success of the Connections Program and its participants. If you have any questions, please email Stefanie Buck (stefanie.buck@oregonstate.edu) and Cosette Bruhns Alonso (cosette_bruhns@brown.edu).

December 2, 2025

LPC Connections: 2025 in Reflection

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This month we celebrate another successful LPC Connections program (formerly known as the LPC Peer Mentorship program). The program, which is managed by the LPC Professional Development Committee, provides an opportunity for participants to meet other members in LPC, share ideas and thoughts about library publishing, learn new things, share experiences, and generally support their peers in their library publishing program.

In 2025, the Professional Development piloted a new model for the program, moving from a one-to-one model, where participants meet with the same person regularly for a year, to a one-to-many model, where participants meet with a different person each month, giving them the opportunity to meet more like-minded individuals with varied experiences. This change was based on comments provided by the 2024 cohort in the mid-year and annual feedback forms.

The one-to-many pilot commenced in February 2025. In the mid-year and end-of-year reviews, we learned that participants liked the new model because it created an opportunity to learn about many different types of library publishing models and to meet a larger number of individuals; however, they also missed the deeper connections that a one-to-one model can provide.

Consequently, the current LPC Connections coordinators are making a few adjustments to the program for the coming year. In 2026, we will be organizing the meetings in small groups (2 to 3 people, depending on the number of participants) for 2 to 3 times before rotating the groups, bringing together the best of both worlds. We hope many of you will consider joining the program for 2026 and sharing your knowledge and experiences with your fellow LPC members.

Timeline for the 2026 cycle:

  • Applications open December 10! We are accepting applications through January 14, and we’ll send out regular reminders.
  • The list of participants and rotation schedule will be shared so you can get to know your Connection(s) before meeting up. You and your Connection(s) can schedule a meeting time that works for everyone.
  • The LPC Connections coordinators will provide you with talking points to help jump-start the conversation, but you are welcome to delve into any topic that interests you. We imagine that meetings will be anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes (most participants reported meeting for at least 45 minutes) but it’s flexible.
  • We will send out mid-year and annual feedback forms so you can let us know how it’s going and how we can improve the program.

Questions? Feel free to reach out to the LPC Connection Coordinators: Stefanie Buck (stefanie.buck@oregonstate.edu) and Cosette Bruhns Alonso (cosette_bruhns@brown.edu)

December 12, 2024

New in 2025: the LPC Connections Program

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The 2025 Library Publishing Coalition Peer Mentorship Program is commencing under a new name: the LPC Connections Program. Historically, the LPC Peer Mentorship Program has facilitated two individuals working together, exchanging knowledge, and sharing their expertise and insights. Initially conceived as a traditional mentorship program where one individual “mentors” another, it was restructured in 2019 to a peer-mentorship model. This revised structure allowed for two individuals to meet regularly, learn from each other, and foster an orientation to the LPC, promoting relationship-building and active involvement.

The activities in 2024 included an official kick-off meeting, mid-year evaluations, a list of useful discussion prompts, regular meetings between pairs, and a year-end review. While the feedback from last year has been overwhelmingly positive, participants also expressed interest in interacting with more than one mentor. Given our community’s wealth of expertise, expanding these interactions seems beneficial.

Consequently, the LPC Professional Development Committee has decided to refresh the program structure by rebranding the program as LPC Connections. Here is the plan:

Instead of assigning a single mentor for a year, participants will connect with various knowledgeable individuals from across the LPC. Each month, a new match will be assigned. Participants will meet, discuss, and learn from each other with the help of provided discussion prompts, and the process will repeat with a new match the following month.

Interested in joining the Connection program in 2025? (It’s a rhetorical question. We know you are.) Then please apply now and join the fun!

Timeline for the 2025 cycle:

  • Applications are out now! We are accepting applications through January 12, and we’ll send out regular reminders.
  • The list of participants and rotation schedule will be shared so you can get to know your Connection before meeting up. You and your Connection can schedule a meeting time that works for you both.
  • The LPC Professional Development Committee will provide you with prompts to help jump-start the conversation, but you are welcome to delve into any topic that interests you both. We image that meeting will be anywhere from 30-60 minutes. It’s flexible.
  • Library Publishing Forum 2025 is May 5-8 (Virtual). Let’s meet up!
  • Mid-year and end of year feedback opportunities will be available so if you have ideas or thoughts, we’re always open to feedback.

As this is a pilot initiative, we are eagerly seeking feedback from participants on the new model and any potential areas for improvement. Opportunities for providing feedback will be available throughout the program.

LPC Professional Development Committee

Anna Dimoula, University of Miami (co-chair)
Adam Mazel, Indiana University (co-chair)
Kristina Bloch, University of Louisville
Stefanie Buck, Oregon State University
Patti Sherbaniuk, University of Alberta
Anne Sticksel, Northwestern University