This article profiles "Library Journal's" (LJ) chosen 2008 Librarian of the Year. Librarians and officials in education and government all recount the leadership and creativity brought to library service in New Jersey by State Librarian Norma Blake. She has sparked proactive, collaborative initiatives that have taken libraries of all…

Discussion of the need for management training for librarians focuses on the New Jersey Library Leadership Institute, which was developed to provide such training for early career professional librarians working in New Jersey. Skills training, a mentoring component, and a practicum are described; and evaluation results are discussed. (LRW)