AUGUSTA — The Maine State Library has announced participants for the inaugural cohort of its Library Leadership Institute.

The Institute, sponsored by the Maine State Library and the Maine Library Association, is a yearlong program to prepare library leaders to serve Maine citizens in the most effective and innovative manner that will meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges in the library profession. The program is funded in part by a grant from the Maine Community Foundation.

The participants in this initial class are Devin Burritt, Wells Public Library; Samantha Cote, Jackson Memorial Library, Tenants Harbor; Sonya Durney, Portland Public Library; Ann Filley, Rockport Public Library; Elizabeth Kane, Norway Memorial Library; Kate Pickup-McMullin, Southwest Harbor Public Library; Kara Reiman, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook; and Holly Williams, Pittsfield Public Library.

Two alternates have also been chosen: Marcela Peres, Lewiston Public Library and Jeanne Madden, Falmouth Memorial Library.

Participants will attend the weeklong New England Library Association’s New England Library Leadership Symposium in late July, led by Maureen Sullivan, the current American Library Association president. Each month, the cohorts will meet to learn about and discuss solutions to challenges facing the library profession.

The participants will design and complete a project that will address Maine library needs. The year will culminate with a presentation of the projects at a state-wide meeting of librarians.