Recently ALAO and other library organizations held elections to refresh their governing bodies, which generated a multitude of reminders to vote. Wishing to be an informed voter for the ALA elections, I went about the task of viewing the bios for the candidates in the various positions. I watched a video of the two candidates for ALA president talk about their philosophies and answer questions submitted by ALA members. The first question was “How do you view volunteer engagement in a profession whose responsibilities and workload continue to increase?” Being responsible for ALAO’s board elections, I found this to be a very interesting question, and I have given considerable thought to volunteerism and how the ALAO membership might view it. I imagine many of my colleagues in librarianship can relate to shrinking staff numbers, increased workloads and the stress that comes with it. I would like to relay these words of encouragement from the two presidential candidates: Cindy Hohl believes volunteering is an opportunity to “grow your network, expand your skill set, and feel good about the organization;” Eric Seuss states that volunteering offers a “chance to explore areas we are passionate about” and “learn from and value the experience brought to us.” Past President of ALA, Julius C. Jefferson Jr. said in a recent panel of ALA presidents that volunteering for positions of leadership is an important way to exercise your professional voice. I am sure there are many other reasons to get involved, but as Past President Jefferson pointed out, the most important is that without members and member participation, we have no organization.
Knowing that our colleagues may be volunteering their time and energy while navigating heavy workloads and attending to the details of their personal lives makes their contributions that much more admirable. If you are not already involved in ALAO, please have a look at what the organization has to offer; consider how your strengths and skills can help to keep ALAO strong and show appreciation and support for your colleagues by voting in ALAO elections. More on the ALAO board elections coming in this months’ newsletter…
Board Meeting Report 4-21-23
2023-2024 ALAO Executive Board Election Results:
I am very pleased to announce the candidates who will be providing leadership on the Executive Board for 2023-2024. Join me in congratulating:
- Vice President/President Elect: Sara Klink
- Board Members-at-Large: Tracey Overbey, Allen Reichert, Jaclyn Spraetz
- Public Relations Coordinator: Christine Rigda
A big THANK YOU to ALL the candidates who offered to serve by placing their names on the ballot, and to all those currently serving who will be coming off the board in July. I deeply appreciate your willingness to serve.
Recognition goes out to the members of the Nominating Committee and their fine work for this election cycle:
- Laura Birkenhauer (Co-chair)
- Clayton Hayes
- Alison Ricker
- Jason Wardell (Web Manager)
- Lynn Warner
[I especially would like to thank Alison Ricker—a 2001 Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award recipient who embodies the spirit of service to ALAO. Congratulations on your retirement, Alison!]
Conference Update:
Planning for the 2023 annual conference at Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center is on schedule—see the Vice President/President Elect’s report for details.
Conference Site Selection Committee:
A Conference Site Selection Committee is exploring potential spaces in which to hold ALAO’s 2024 conference, which marks the 50th anniversary of annual conferences for the organization. The committee conducted visits in the Columbus area, and a finding service supplied other options for consideration. The committee intends to find a facility worthy of the special occasion.
Executive Board Retreat:
Planning is underway for the Executive Board Retreat scheduled for July 21st. The retreat will be at OhioNet’s new facility in Westerville. [A meeting between the current Vice President, the new President-Elect, and myself took place recently to discuss items for the agenda and strategic planning for the coming year.]
Indigenous Peoples Land Acknowledgement:
In keeping with ALAO’s commitment to social justice, a land acknowledgement statement is under development for the organization with attention paid to existing guidelines developed by members of Indigenous organizations. Additionally, Dr. Barbara Alice Mann, a writer, educator, activist of Seneca descent, and author of several works of indigenous scholarship, was consulted for more information and input. This statement is only a first step and requires action on the part of ALAO. The plan is to augment the statement with additional educational information and suggestions for acting in support of Indigenous peoples
The next meeting will be the board retreat, scheduled for July 21, 2023.
Other News of Interest
Immediate opportunities for service:
The ALAO Diversity Committee—a particularly important committee for the organization—is seeking dedicated individuals to act as Co-chairs. If you have a passion for furthering the causes of DEIA and would like to gain valuable leadership experience, this is a terrific opportunity. You can find out more about the work of the committee by contacting Gwen Short at short.67@osu.edu or visiting https://www.alaoweb.org/committees/diversity/index.html.
The Research and Publication Committee (RPC) is looking for two members. Interested ALAO members wishing to serve on the RPC should express their interest by contacting Sarah Nagle at pricesb@miamioh.edu. For information about the position visit https://www.alaoweb.org/committees/researchpub/index.html.
Please consider a position on the board in future elections to infuse our organization with current ideas and perspectives. But why wait—see what ALAO has to offer:
- Interest Groups: https://www.alaoweb.org/igs/index.html
- Committees: https://www.alaoweb.org/committees/index.html
- ALAO volunteer form: https://goo.gl/forms/BhIOMVXMxoEd4Hvr1
PayPal Replaced:
Anyone making fee payments for ALAO events can now do so through the organization’s membership management platform, Wild Apricot. This should improve the process for fee registrations and membership renewals.
Grants:
The 2023 Conference Planning Committee is proposing expansion of grants to provide additional opportunities to attend the 2023 Conference.
SB 83:
As have several organizations across the state of Ohio, The American Historical Association has issued a letter in opposition to Senate Bill 83 “Enact Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act” (https://www.historians.org/news-and-advocacy/aha-advocacy/aha-letter-to-ohio-senate-opposing-higher-education-bill-(april-2023). While ALAO considers official action, I would urge all to voice your opposition to Ohio legislators: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/
ALAO Newsletter 