Library Ties

Every year they hold an annual forum at ALA Midwinter where the AASL candidates can give a speech.   So, today I gave a speech about why I’m running for President of AASL.  The text of the speech is below (give or take a few words as I know I improvised a bit).  I believe they are posting a recording of it on the AASL blog soon.

Thank you for the opportunity to run for AASL President.  I thought I would start out telling you a little about how I got in to this profession.  15 years ago a little flyer from Ball State University changed the course of my life.  It advertised a program for school media services.   I always knew growing up I wanted to be in some sort of field related to education.  When I was in high school and the district tech director wasn’t in the building, I was often the next person in line to be called if something went wrong.  Thinking I wanted the director’s job someday, I asked what kind of degrees she had.  The response – home economics!  I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be following the path.   My job during high school was working at the Speedway Public Library, so when that flyer came from Ball State it sounded like that might be the right fit!

While I’m not sure I completely understood what I was getting myself into, I did quickly discover how this was the perfect profession for me.  When I was student teaching, my supervising teacher strongly encouraged me to join ALA/AASL and our state association, AIME.  She was from the generation where you joined because that was part of your responsibility in being a professional.   I dutifully listened and sent in my dues.  But it is so much more than just paying dues — it is about finding ways to contribute and be INVOLVED.

The opportunities for leadership in our state organization came around, as did the chance to serve AASL in a variety of capacities over the years such as chair of the Affiliate Assembly (did you know you could be elected when you were 1000 miles from the meeting?) or chairing the 2007 AASL Conference.  These chances to give back to the profession are something I value and treasure because they made me a better school librarian for my students and staff as well as helped refine my skills as a leader – skills that I can use as President of AASL to benefit you.

I believe and know that the future for our profession lies with INVOLVEMENT.   School librarians are leaders in teaching 21^st Century skills; yet, due to budget shortfalls, positions are being cut.  INVOLVEMENT begins in our schools by designing instruction and providing resources that meet the needs of our students and teachers and basing these resources on the AASL learning standards.   As leaders we need administrators to see us directly impacting student learning.  Being INVOLVED is convincing decision makers that school library programs are transparent in all curricular areas and are a good use of scarce dollars.  I believe we have to be INVOLVED in the profession, recruit new members, and show them how they can be actively INVOLVED in AASL. The future for our field is defined through professional involvement.  The more active members we have the larger voice AASL has to advocate for school libraries.  As a candidate for President of AASL I will continue to work on legislative initiatives and strengthen our profession by completing targeted concerns in the AASL strategic plan. These are unsettling times, but by being INVOLVED and working together, we can fulfill a vision where school libraries are a necessity in every district and every school.

When I leave here today, I’m going back to the 470 students and 40 staff members of North Elementary School and my day job as the library media specialists.   But I know that by being a part of the AASL community, I have a network of people I can rely on to help me in time of need, to share and brainstorm ideas, and celebrate the successes.  As AASL President, I want every school librarian to see the AASL community and say, “I have to be a part of that!”

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