I have spent my career as librarian, community leader, newspaper columnist, radio and TV show host, writer, teacher, and a leader of statewide, regional, national, and even international efforts in positioning the library for tomorrow. If we are to survive and thrive in that tomorrow, we must shift public perceptions of our roles. As ALA President, … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA President: James LaRue
The second thing people say when they hear I’m running for ALA president (after “yay!” or “really?”) is “why?” Why am I running, and, more pointedly, why me? Fair questions. One of the president’s most important roles is to tell our story, to be the voice of libraries, librarians, and librarianship to the world. The … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Joseph Janes
Presidential initiative To paraphrase Eli Neiburger, deputy director at Ann Arbor (Mich.) District Library: “Libraries aren’t about what we buy,” they are about what we do, and library staffers are the doers. As president, I will challenge ALA to embark on a large-scale public relations campaign demonstrating that it’s the staff that makes a library. … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA President: JP Porcaro
Our primary Association, the American Library Association, is critical to the success of the profession in general and is critical to the present and future success of libraries, library workers, and library supporters. Although the Association has always managed dozens of issues simultaneously as well as speaks to the needs of members, ALA has chosen … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Julie Todaro
