TBLC News

The American Library Association (ALA) 2009 Nominating Committee is soliciting nominees to run on the 2009 spring ballot for the offices of ALA President-elect and Councilor-at-large.

The Nominating Committee will select two candidates to run for President-elect and no fewer than 50 candidates for the 33 at-large Council seats to be filled in the 2009 spring election.

The President-elect will serve a three-year term: as President-elect in 2009-2010, as President in 2010-2011 and as Immediate Past President in 2011-2012.

The Councilors-at-large will serve three-year terms, beginning after the 2009 ALA Annual Conference and ending at the adjournment of the 2012 Annual Conference.

The ALA President and Councilors also serve in corresponding roles in the ALA-Allied Professional Association [ALA-APA].  Individuals considering ALA-APA office are encouraged to consult with their employer regarding any restrictions regarding lobbying activities or service on the governing body of a 501(c)6 organization.

ALA members who wish to make nominations should submit the following information: nominee name; present position; institution; address; telephone; fax; and e-mail address.  All potential nominees must complete the Potential Candidate Biographical Form available at https://cs.ala.org/potentialcandidates. The database will be available June 2, 2008.   Nominations and forms must be received no later than Sept. 1, 2008.   Self-nominations are encouraged. 

Nominations also may be sent to any member of the 2009 Nominating Committee.  Committee members are:  Susan S. DiMattia, chair, consultant, DiMattia Associates, Stamford, Conn., sdimattia@optonline.net; Rose T. Dawson, acting director, Alexandria (Va.) Library, rdawson@alexandria.lib.va.us; Timothy P. Grimes, manager, Community Relations and Marketing, Ann Arbor (Mich.) District Library, grimest@aadl.org; Susan Hildreth, state librarian, California State Library, Sacramento, Calif., shhildreth@comcast.net; Corinne M. Hill, collection development manager, Denton (Texas) Public Library; cmhill@cityofdenton.com; Pamela Spencer Holley, writer, consultant, Hallwood, Va., pamsholley@aol.com; Jo Ellen Priest Misakian, interim dean/School of Education, Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, Cailf., jmisakian@fresno.edu; Daniel O. O’Connor, professor, Rutgers University School of Communication Information & Library Studies, New Brunswick, N.J.; oconnor@scils.rutgers.edu ; and Thomas C. Wilson, associate dean, Library Technology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, tcwilson@ua.edu.

To encourage diversity and leadership development, the Committee will refrain from nominating any current councilors for election to another term. 

However, the Committee encourages all current councilors who wish to continue their service to the ALA to file as petition candidates.  Petitions will be available from Lois Ann Gregory-Wood, Council Secretariat, ALA, 50 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611, e-mail: lgregory@ala.org, or during the 2008 Annual Conference or 2009 Midwinter Meeting.  Petitions require 25 signatures for names to be included on the 2009 ballot.

The American Library Association (ALA) is now accepting applications for the 2009 class of Emerging Leaders.  Applications can be found at http://cs.ala.org/hrdr/emergingleaders/.

The deadline to apply is July 31.

The program is designed to enable more than 100 new librarians to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership.  Participants are given the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, network with peers and get an inside look into ALA structure and activities.

An ALA division, round table, ethnic affiliate, state chapter or AASL Affiliate will sponsor approximately one-third of the selected applicants.  Each sponsor will contribute $1000 towards expenses ($500 for each conference).  To be sponsored, apply directly to your division, chapter or round table on the application.  A list of sponsoring units is included as part of the online application. You can also check with your state association and/or state chapter to find out how to apply for their sponsorship.

Sponsorship is not required for participation in the program.  In order to be eligible for participation in the program, those selected must meet the following criteria:

1. Be under 35 years of age or be a new librarian of any age with fewer than five years post-MLS experience, and
2. Have a recent MLS degree from an ALA or NCATE accredited program or be in an MLS program currently, and
3. Be able to attend both ALA conferences and work virtually in between each, and
4. Be prepared to commit to serve on an ALA, Division, Chapter or Round Table committee, taskforce or workgroup upon completion of program, and
5. Be an ALA member or join upon selection if not already a member.

Program information will be available and updated at: wikis.ala.org/emergingleaders.  For questions or more information regarding the program, contact Beatrice Calvin at bcalvin@ala.org.