Pursuing excellence for library service to children
For the past three years, I served as the new-to-ALSC Board Member. It was perhaps the most humbling, amazing, and unexpected experience of my professional career. Looking ahead to the transition of new Board members at ALA in Philadelphia, I’m incredibly grateful. Today, I’m sharing a few lessons from my Board tenure.
Every year at annual conference, the full ALSC Board meets in person to conduct a variety of business. These are open meetings that any member may attend, unless the Board moves into executive session. Today’s meeting was full of discussion and decision items. Curious about what we talked about? Here are some highlights: Sibert 25th Anniversary The Robert F. Sibert Informational Medal will celebrate it’s 25th anniversary in 2026. While that may seem like years away, budget realities mean that we start these discussions early. The Board voted to create a task force that will support celebrations around this award. Diversifying Revenue Streams Task Force Updates Fiscal responsibility is part of the overall health of ALSC as an organization. The Diversifying Revenue Streams Task Force has done much work over the past year. Today, their final report brought recommendations and information to the Board. The Board discussed their findings and…
Every year as part of the Annual Conference, the ALSC Board hosts an orientation for incoming and current Board members. It’s a chance for Board members to review who ALSC is, why we are here, and how we do our work. Admittedly, it’s a lot of information to digest. At the same time, it’s also an opportunity for each year’s Board to come together and begin building their relationships.
Did you know that meetings of the ALSC Executive Board are open to all members? Guests are welcome to attend, unless the Board moves into executive session. As a Board member, I regularly attend meetings of the full Board (which are also open to guests), but being a guest at the Executive Board meetings gives me more details and background about our organization and leadership. Attending these meetings is a great way for members to learn more about ALSC governance. If you’re curious, join us to see first-hand this work in action. As a Board member, I love hearing from members to know their questions, concerns, and priorities. It helps us make informed decisions that best guide the strategic direction of the organization.
For those of you at ALA Annual in New Orleans, you can probably relate when I say we were all moving full steam ahead. With temperatures in the 90s and high humidity, most everyone you met had a bit of a glow and varying degrees of moisture clinging to them from the steamy, long days spent running to meetings that seemed miles apart. ALSC Committee Work While the Fahrenheit was certainly high, it was the steam of ALSC’s hardworking members and their various committees that kept us moving forward. During the convention, process committees were meeting to make important decisions and plan next steps for exciting projects. Some of the children’s book and media award committees were discussing new titles under consideration for various honors. At the same time, other committees such as the 2018 Pura Belpré Award selection committee were celebrating their winning authors and illustrators. Exciting ALSC co-sponsored…
Mentorship, diversity, social justice, leadership, and advocacy. These are just a few of the topics passionately discussed in ALSC sessions at the 2017 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.
Looking for an amazing opportunity within ALSC? Here it is! The 2018 ALSC Nominating Committee is looking for recommendations of candidates for several ALSC leadership and book award selection committees. Apply or nominate a colleague below! DEADLINE: Friday, March 31, 2017
“All was well.” –J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Unfathomably, it’s now time for my final monthly presidential blog post (otherwise known as POTA Blog #12). As we look ahead to ALA Annual Conference in Orlando in just about two weeks it is also, of course, a time to look back over the past year. While the 2015-16 Annual Report will be coming soon and will do an excellent job of more thoroughly documenting ALSC’s incredible achievements over the past twelve months, I would like to highlight here three things I said that I would do when I asked for your vote for the honor of serving as ALSC President and which we’ve successfully done together. 1. Reaching Out Over the past year, the ALSC team has engaged in productive conversations with such groups as: Food Research and Action Center Institute of Museum and Library Services The Joan…