Past AIME Presidents, Leslie Preddy, Carl Harvey, Kim Carr, and Rick Jones

After missing the 2009 ILF conference because I was sick, I was glad for the chance to catch-up with my Indiana friends this year.  The 2010 Indiana Library Federation conference was full of good times and great opportunities for learning.  The Association for Indiana Media Educators (AIME) had some big changes with this year’s conference.  Formed in 1978, AIME was a combination of the Indiana School Librarians Association and the Indiana Association for Educational Communications and Technology.  At the ILF conference this week, AIME went through another change and renamed the organization to the Association of Indiana School Library Educators (AISLE).

We were also lucky enough to have a visit from the current AASL President, Dr. Nancy Everhart, who made a swing by Indianapolis on her way to continue visiting schools all across the country as part of her Vision Tour.  Nick Bruel came to accept his Young Hoosier Book Award for Bad Kitty.  He provided a hilarious speech sharing about where the characters came from in his books. The main event at the conference, however, was the performance

Past, Present, and Future AIME Presidents, Jill Youngblood, Vicki Builta, and Lael DuBois

from A.R.T. — Authors Readers Theatre.  The troupe included Avi, Richard Peck, Pam Munoz Ryan, and Sarah Weeks.  Performing as a group, they did Readers Theatre performances selected from the books they’ve written.  It was absolutely amazing!  For me, I got a chance to meet Sarah Weeks who will be coming back to Indiana in March for our annual author visit.  Our kids are going to love her!  But, as always my favorite part of any conference are the conversations – at lunch, in

A.R.T.-Richard Peck, Pam Munoz Ryan, Avi, and Sarah Weeks

the hallway, during a break, or in the vendor hall.  The time to share, to commiserate, to celebrate, and to learn from one another is so invaluable for school librarians.  Our world can be so isolating as we’re the only one that has our job in the school.  We need that opportunity to find others like us.  It helps us grow and develop as professionals to be even better for our students and staff.  Next year the ILF conference will be going back to Ft. Wayne.  Looking forward to it already!

I always wonder how I will react to the ending of my time on the Board.  Obviously I’ve spent a great deal of time and effort in helping to move the organization forward.  You take ownership of those things you did and projects you worked on.  Sometimes it is hard to imagine that anyone but yourself could do it the right way.  But, I find that the opposite is true.  Both when I left as President of AIME and now as I leave as President of ILF, the amazing thing about professional organizations is that there is always the next leader willing and able to pick up and put their best efforts towards the organization.  I like to think they’ll tackle those areas that I couldn’t make work, or that they’ll take things I started and make them even better.   One year I worked for a principal who as she announced her retirement said, “I’ve been here long enough.  I’ve fixed all the things I know how to fix.  It is time for someone to come in with new ideas and hopefully solve those problems I couldn’t.”  I think you find as a President of an organization that same feeling rings true.

Many ask why you would run for President of an organization.  I’ve done it twice on a state-wide level and now venture into the national level as a candidate for President of the American Association of School Librarians.  I think there are a couple of reasons:

1.) Opportunity – My career as a library media specialist has always been one of opportunities.  Certainly I don’t seek them out, but rather they seem to find me.  If you had told me the first time I attend a conference, that I would have a leadership role in the organization, I probably would have laughed!  Most people wouldn’t believe this, but I tend to be shy.  Being out in front as a leader wouldn’t have been something I might have jumped on right away.  But, with each new step — committee member to committee chair to board member to president all provide a ladder for me to climb and learn and grow.   Now I’m more aware as these things come along and realize the potential of saying “yes”!

2.) Contributions – With each opportunity comes the realization that “I can do that” and “I have something to offer or contribute.”  Taking on a leadership role is one thing, but making sure that while you are serving in that role, you are making a positive contribution to move the organization forward is important.   What talents do you bring to the table?  What perspective do you provide?  How can you help guide the organization to be even better than the day you took office?  I know that my profession has given to me in so many ways by the opportunities I’ve had to attend conferences, network with colleagues, read professional literature, build friendships, and a whole host of other ways as well.  I wholeheartedly believe that it is therefore my responsibility to give back to the profession.  By serving, I can hopefully give others some of the same opportunities and benefits the profession has given to me over the years.

3.) Growth – People always seem to notice that I have an amazing administrator who supports my activities in the profession.  He may not always provide funding, but he does help to ensure I can participate and contribute as much as possible.  Anytime I’ve asked to join a new committee or take on another role, he quickly replies, “yes”.  He would tell you that he believe that all of those experiences help make me a better library media specialist for our students and staff.  I agree with him.  The interaction with other colleagues, the perspectives you learn, and the work you do all majorly impact and influence the library media specialist you are.  It helps us to grow beyond the walls of our library.  I can’t tell you the times I’ve come back from a meeting or a session and said, “We have got to try that here!”  Besides the benefits of success, I have a friend who refers to those moments in life when you’d do something differently if given the chance as “life lessons”.  It is taking the positive spin on it, but I have come to believe it the best way to consider how we grow.  As a leader there are always things I wish I had done differently.  Its part of life and we have two choices.  We can wallow in the mistakes, or we can the opportunity to learn from them.  I choose the latter.  I know that the next time around I’ll be smarter and more aware to hopefully make the right decision.

Now, just because I’m off the Board doesn’t mean I’m going away.  I’m still a card-carrying member of ILF and AIME.  I still believe that I have ways I can contribute to the growth of our state professional organizations.  So, while I may not be sitting on the Board, I likely won’t be on the sidelines either.  I’m sure there will be some other opportunities that come along the way.

I’m excited about the upcoming AASL election and running for President.  I see it as another way I can contribute and give back to the field.  My leadership with AIME and ILF will be (and have been) a value to me in this new endeavor.

This has been my paths.  Others may go down different roads and have different ways they can contribute back.  Whatever that road might be, look for the opportunities to be active and involved in your state and/or national organization.  It certainly will be an experience you won’t regret!