Shadow Program

The Southeastern Shadow Program matches staff* from different libraries with each other so that you can experience a day in the life of another organization. This peer-sharing event offers an opportunity to see how other libraries operate. The outcomes include community connections, shared ideas, new resources, and firsthand experience with different aspects of librarianship.

How it works: Sign up using the online Google form to request a visit to a library (shadowee), to host an individual (shadower), or do both. Southeastern will arrange introductions and connect you to your match. Shadowing visits should last approximately 4 hours during the workday.

With your help, this program will benefit new and emerging library workers. With that in mind, we encourage you to sign up if you have the space for a guest to shadow you. You might think your role is self-explanatory, but there’s a good chance that what seems routine to you will be brand new and informative for someone else.

Matched library workers will have from mid-March through the end of April 2026 to meet with one another and report back to Southeastern. Please note that this is not a mentoring or job training program.

Southeastern’s membership consists of the following institution types, and we are looking for both volunteer hosts and visitors from:

When all of the requests are received, Southeastern will be a “matchmaker” based on your responses. While we can’t guarantee anyone will be matched with a particular institution, we may reach out to others who didn’t sign up to accommodate special requests.