{"id":17998,"date":"2018-04-15T00:01:38","date_gmt":"2018-04-15T04:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/?p=17998"},"modified":"2018-04-12T07:17:11","modified_gmt":"2018-04-12T11:17:11","slug":"meet-your-alsc-board-linda-ernst","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/2018\/04\/meet-your-alsc-board-linda-ernst\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Your ALSC Board – Linda Ernst"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this monthly feature, we profile ALSC Board members. We hope to offer information about the people who work to guide the organization so that you<\/strong> can feel more comfortable in reaching out to them with your concerns, questions, or comments. To continue this series, we invite you to meet ALSC Board member, Linda Ernst<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy of guest blogger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why did you join ALSC? How long have you been a member? Do you belong to any other ALA divisions or roundtables?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTo my favorite librarian\u201d \u2013 that\u2019s what my English teacher wrote in my senior yearbook many years ago.\u00a0 I was aghast! No way! So what if I had been working in the school library \u201cforever\u201d and I loved to read.\u00a0 Liking books didn\u2019t mean you were going to end up working with them did it?\u00a0 Fate has a way of twisting & turning and I did find my way into the library field but it wasn\u2019t a direct route. I wanted to focus on school libraries but didn\u2019t have an education degree so I went for college and research libraries. Graduating with my MLS from Rosary College (now Dominican University) my job hunting luckily led me to Oak Lawn Library in Illinois and the position of Children\u2019s Librarian. Looking back 40 years I\u2019m still grateful they gave me the start in a vocation I\u2019ve never been bored with.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been a member of ALA and ALSC for most of those years. In addition, I have been a member of PLA (Public Library Association) and EMIERT (Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table).<\/p>\n

What strengths do you bring to the ALSC Board of Directors?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. My enthusiasm \u2013 I love sharing ideas, brainstorming and thinking of not only the possibilities but how to make them realities. Being a librarian means the opportunity to learn all kinds of new things and meet all types of interesting people.<\/li>\n
  2. I am not afraid to ask questions. Not just the \u201cwhy\u201d and \u201chow\u201d questions but \u201cwhat does that really mean\u201d type of questions and the best one: \u201cwhat does that acronym\/term mean?\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. I like to empower people and help them realize what they are capable of doing. One reason I became a librarian was because I didn\u2019t think I was smart enough to be a teacher. Much to my surprise, I\u2019ve discovered that\u2019s what librarians do all the time and sharing what I\u2019ve learned with others is so energizing!<\/li>\n
  4. Facing the unknown \u2013 I never thought I\u2019d write a book let alone four! Sometimes having someone else believe in you before you believe in yourself can make all the difference.<\/li>\n
  5. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What have you learned while serving on the Board?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    I\u2019ve learned that there is still much more I have to learn but all the Board members are working together so the future is bright for the children we serve. I\u2019ve also learned that showing up is only part of our job, we need to put our ideas and goals into action.\u00a0 We have a responsibility to represent all our members, both experienced and new.\u00a0 I\u2019m still the \u201cnew kid on the block\u201d and I look forward to sharing what I\u2019m learning with our members and encouraging them to join the fun!<\/p>\n

    What do you wish ALSC members knew about ALSC or about the ALSC Board of directors?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The Board really does want to know what you are thinking.\u00a0 Talk to us! Let us know the good, the bad and yes, the ugly.\u00a0 If you rely on \u201cI heard\u2026\u201d or \u201cwhat are they doing!\u201d you may or may not know the whole story so check with us. (You can contact me via email<\/a>.) We need your enthusiasm and your energy.\u00a0 There are so many different ways to participate now and various levels of participation I\u2019m sure one will fit where you are right now!<\/p>\n

    ALSC members should reach out to me if\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n