J. ROBERT JAMERSON MEMORIAL LIBRARY STAFF SELECTED FOR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
Appomattox, VA (February 20, 2026)
The J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library is proud to announce that our Library Director, Cindy Scheu has been selected to attend the 2026 cohort of The Virginia Library Leadership Academy (VALLA). She was selected as one of 22 individuals from over 85 applications and whose applications strongly demonstrated VALLA’s core commitment to equity, accessibility, inclusivity; personal growth; connection building; and individualized leadership. Mrs. Scheu will begin her individualized leadership journey with a 3-day, in-person, intensive workshop, followed by a year’s worth of leadership topics and mentorship to continue to explore and develop their leadership capacity. With the support of several generous sponsors, participation is free except for travel to and from the venue.
VALLA is a leadership development and mentoring program designed to cultivate a diverse, skilled library workforce across Virginia. With a mission to provide individualized, regular, and accessible leadership development, VALLA supports library professionals at every stage of their careers — from emerging leaders to seasoned veterans. Guided by a commitment to equity, inclusivity, and personal growth, VALLA removes common barriers to professional development by minimizing time commitments and reducing financial burdens. The program emphasizes connection-building through mentorship, coaching, and networking, creating a statewide community of empowered library leaders. The curriculum covers essential leadership topics including visioning, change management, community building, cultural responsiveness, and communication through an equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) lens. VALLA’s blended format includes pre-work and asynchronous discussions, a 2–3 day in-person workshop, and approximately two hours per month over eleven months — balancing meaningful engagement with participants’ busy schedules. VALLA is open to any individual working in the library field who is looking to grow as a leader, regardless of their current developmental stage.
The application evaluation process was anonymous, having redacted any personal identifying information, and multiple evaluators scored each application utilizing a predetermined rubric to ensure an objective decision was reached. The 22 chosen applicants represent different types of libraries: Academic (8), Public (13), and one (1) library school student, with a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences.
Mrs. Scheu serves as the Library Director and has been with the library for two years.
Additional information about VALLA along with the complete list of the selected participants and sponsoring organizations may be found on the VALLA webpage (https://www.vla.org/valla).