03. Joseph Janes
Current Position: Associate Professor and Chair, MLIS Program, University of Washington Information School, Seattle, WA
Type of Library: Information School
Previous Position(s): Assistant Professor, University of Michigan School of Information, 1989-1998
Degrees and Certificates: Syracuse University, PhD, Information Transfer, 1989 Syracuse University, Master of Library Science, 1983 Syracuse University, AB Mathematics, 1982
Division Affiliation(s): LITA, RUSA
To which Round Tables do you belong? Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT)
Were/are you a Spectrum Scholar? No
Were/are you an Emerging Leader? No
ALA and/or ALA-APA Activities: ALA Committee on Accreditation, 2007-2011 ALA Advisory Committee, Office of Information Technology Policy, 1998-2002
Honors and Awards (library and non-library, including DATES): RUSA Isadore Gilbert Mudge Award for distinguished contributions to reference librarianship, 2006 Elected, Phi Beta Kappa, 1982
Major Accomplishments: Founding Director, Internet Public Library, 1995-1998 Author of columns "Internet Librarian" and "Another Story", American Libraries magazine, 2002-present Major speeches and addresses nationally and internationally, including RUSA and LITA President's Programs, Internet Librarian, Canadian Library Association and Public Library Association meetings, Library of Congress, over 20 state and provincial library association conferences as well as conferences in Europe, UK, Japan Workshops and Staff Day presentations at public and academic libraries Provided expert testimony for the plaintiffs in the CIPA lawsuit (American Library Association v. United States) Creator of podcast series, Documents That Changed the World
Publication(s): Janes, Joseph, ed. Library 2020, New York: Rowman & Littlefield, 2013.
Janes, Joseph, Introduction to Reference Work in the Digital Age, New York: Neal-Schuman, 2003.
Elisabeth Jones and Joseph Janes, “Anonymity in a World of Digital Books: Google Books, Privacy, and the Freedom to Read”, Policy & Internet, 2011
Links to further information: joejanes.org
Statement of Professional Concerns/Aspirations if Elected: For the better part of 30 years, I’ve been educating, writing, thinking, speaking and working to make libraries and librarianship better. I want to bring two things to the presidency and profession: First, telling our story, as often, and in as many ways, as possible. We have a great story to tell, about how we improve every aspect of the knowledge ecosystem. We make information better, technology better, and people and communities better. One of ALA’s, and the president’s, chief obligations is to be a consistent and persistent voice in the wider world. I’m a storyteller, give a good interview, am comfortable in front of groups of people, and writing comes easily.
Second, the future will have two parallel and competing aspects. “Traditional” media, increasingly in fewer, larger, and greedier hands. And “new” media, far more open, far more accessible, though without the familiar infrastructure. We’ll have to contend with both, and increasingly have to decide how many of our eggs to put in which basket, and even more importantly the design, development and implementation of what comes next.
I imagine what it would be like to lead a seminar that would involve large numbers of colleagues in sharing, exploring and working through challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, finding the right mix of tradition and innovation for their own setting, experimenting with new ideas, building on familiar ones, and seeing what works best.
In my leadership experiences, I’ve found that a collaborative and collegial approach yields results and makes those involved feel better. A sense of humor, particularly about one’s self, doesn’t hurt either. I’m also careful with other people’s money and can run a very efficient meeting.
All in all, I want to pay this profession back and do whatever I can to leave it better than I found it.
Member of ALA since: 1982
04. James LaRue
Current Position: CEO, LaRue & Associates, Castle Rock , CO
Type of Library: Library consultant
Previous Positions: Director, Douglas County (Colorado) Libraries, 1990-2014 Library Services Administrator, Greeley Public Library, Greeley CO, 1987-1990 Assistant Director, Lincoln Library (Springfield Public Library), Springfield IL, 1982-1987
Degrees and Certificates: University of Illinois, M.S., Library and Information Science, 1981 Illinois State University, B.S., Philosophy and English, 1977
Division Affiliation(s): PLA
To which Round Tables do you belong? Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT)
Were/are you a Spectrum Scholar? No
Were/are you an Emerging Leader? No
ALA and/or ALA-APA Activities: ALA Digital Content Working Group, 2010-2014 eContent blog: 2011-2014
Offices held in state/regional library associations, and other associations (include DATES): Community Advisory Board, National Children's Study, Chair, 2010- 2013. Greater Parker Foundation Board member, 2010-2011. BCR (Bibliographic Center for Research) Board of Trustees, Delegate At-Large, 2008-2010. Vice Chairman of the Board, 2010. Parker Economic Development Council, Chair, 2010. Parker Economic Development Council Board, 2008-2009. OCLC Membership Council, Executive Committee, 2007-2008. Douglas County Youth Initiative Executive Board, Chair, 2006-2007. OCLC Membership Council, BCR Representative 2005-2008. Treasurer, Douglas County Youth Initiative Executive Board, 2006. Castle Rock Players Board, Chair, 2004-2005. Castle Rock Players, a community theater group, Board member, 2001-2004. Public Library Association, a division of the Colorado Association of Libraries, Chair, 2001-2003. Charter President, Rotary Club of Castle Rock - High Noon, January 1, 2000-July, 2001. Advisory Council, School of Library & Information Management, Emporia State University, 2000-2012. Colorado Library Association, Chair, Conference Planning Committee, 1997-1998 Colorado Library Association (now Colorado Association of Libraries) 1998-1999 Colorado Council for Library Development, , Chair, 2002-2003. Chairman, CCLD Advocacy Committee, 2001-2002. Central Colorado Library System Board, Chair,. 1995-96 Co-chair, Intellectual Freedom Committee of Colorado Library Association. 1988-89
Honors and Awards (library and non-library, including DATES): Re-Naming of the former Highlands Ranch Library to the James H. LaRue Library, by the Board of Trustees of Douglas County Libraries, 2013. Colorado Association of Libraries Career Achievement Award, 2013. Julie J. Boucher Award for Intellectual Freedom, Colorado Library Association, 2007. John Cotton Dana Award for the Douglas County Libraries, 2007, for the 2006 project "Page to Stage." National Council of Teachers of English/Support for the Learning and Teaching of English Intellectual Freedom Award, 2004. Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce's 2003 Business Person of the Year. Julie J. Boucher Award for Intellectual Freedom, Colorado Library Association, 2000. Colorado Librarian of the Year, 1998.
Major Accomplishments: - Led the establishment of an independent public library district in Douglas County, CO, which went from the worst ranked public library in the state in 1990 to the top ranked library in the nation in 2006 (Hennen ratings for public libraries of 250,000-500,000).
- Led the team that created the Douglas County Libraries ebook platform
- Wrote a weekly newspaper column connecting the public library to the community for over 20 years
- Authored "The New Inquisition: Understanding and Managing Intellectual Freedom Challenges." Libraries Unlimited, 2007.
Publications: "Wanna Write a Good One?" American Libraries eContent Digital Supplement June 2013, pp 18-21.
"Give 'em What They Want?" Publishers Weekly, April 1, 2013, Vol. 260, Number 13m pp. 18-19.
"The Last One Standing," Public Libraries, January/February 2012, Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 28-32.
Links to further information: Campaign website: larueforpresident.com Business website: www.jlarue.com. Blog: jaslarue.blogspot.com Newspaper column archive: laruesviews.blogspot.com
Statement of Professional Concerns/Aspirations if Elected: In this most exciting time in the history of our profession, our focus should be on reclaiming our place as proud and valued community assets.
Libraries have long done vital work in early and emergent literacy; we have long provided a potent strategy for lifelong learning to those of any age or background; we have long been a vibrant center of community life and connection. But at this moment of generational change in our profession, at this moment of technological disruption caused by the rise of digital publishing, we have a unique opportunity to provide leadership not only for our institutions, but the communities around them. We can make our schools, our municipalities, our universities, and our institutions (whether profit or non-profit) stronger, smarter, and better prepared for the future.
If elected to President of ALA, I would focus on three areas:
- trumpeting the great value of children's librarianship, our most potent strategy to sow literacy in the land.
- continuing the good work of previous ALA presidents to work not just with established publishers to secure access to digital content, but also to embrace emerging sources of content, such as independent, self-published, and library-created works.
- equipping and celebrating the emerging best practices of community-centered librarianship.
Our best hope for long term viability is to demonstrate our value to our authorizing environment. The 21st century librarian is active, not passive; engaged, not entitled; committed, not cautious. We are leaders.
Member of ALA since: 1994
05. JP Porcaro
Current Position: Librarian for Acquisitions and Technological Discovery, New Jersey City University Library, Jersey City, NJ
Type of Library: Academic
Previous Position(s): Head of Children’s Services, Reference Librarian, Page: Belleville Public Library and Information Center, Belleville NJ, Dec ’96-Aug ‘09
Systems and Electronic Resources Librarian, Saint Peter’s College, Jersey City, NJ, Apr ’08-Oct‘08
Senior Advisor, EveryLibrary Political Action Committee, April '13-Present.
Degrees and Certificates: MLIS, Rutgers School of Communication and Information, New Brunswick, NJ. 2006. Took all Master's level coursework required to become a certified School Media Specialist.
BA in Philosophy, New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ. 2003.
Division Affiliation(s): ACRL
To which Round Tables do you belong? (check all that apply) Games & Gaming Round Table (GAMERT)
Were/are you a Spectrum Scholar? No
Were/are you an Emerging Leader? Yes
ALA and/or ALA-APA Activities: Founding convener of the ALA Comic Book & Graphic Novel Member Initiative Group., 2010-present.
Organizer and founding president of the ALA Games & Gaming Round Table (GameRT)., 2010-2012
Elected member of the NJLA Executive Board: Member-at-large, 2012-2013; ALA Councilor, 2013-2014.
Member of the LibraryLinkNJ Technology CE Advisory Group, 2011-present.
President of the NJLA Emerging Technologies Section, 2012-2013.
Offices held in state/regional library associations, and other associations (include DATES): Elected member of the NJLA Executive Board: Member-at-large, 2012-2013; ALA Councilor, 2013-2014.
Member of the LibraryLinkNJ Technology CE Advisory Group, 2011-present.
President of the NJLA Emerging Technologies Section, 2012-2013.
Honors and Awards (library and non-library, including DATES): Featured on slate.com's “This Is What A Librarian Looks Like", their highest-trafficked photo essay ever, 2014.
Made flavorwire.com’s “10 of the Coolest Librarians Alive” list, 2013.
Named a “NJ Library Legend” by former NJ State Librarian Norma Blake.
Champion of the #makeithappen hashtag, with support from celebrities such as Hulk Hogan and Andrew W.K., and in library publications such as American Libraries magazine and OCLC Webjunction.
New Jersey City University Core Values Team Award, 2013.
Library Journal Mover & Shaker, 2012.
American Library Association Emerging Leader, 2010.
Graduate of Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative's Leadership Program, 2009.
Graduate of New Jersey Academy of Library Leadership, 2008.
Major Accomplishments: I am the most visible librarian of my generation ("Millennials"). I am breaking down traditional barriers towards success by building large networking opportunities for librarians of all ages and “places” within our profession, through work like managing ALA Think Tank (which, as of this writing, has around 9000 members) and organizing real social networking events at library conferences nationwide. I am extremely proud of my work breaking down barriers of what is seen as stereotypical librarianship: whether it be founding the GameRT, managing and supporting the ALA booth at New York Comic Con, my collaboration with Librarian Wardrobe and the “This Is What A Librarian Looks Like” article, it’s demonstrably apparent that I’m actively changing the librarian’s role in the 21st century world. While I consider much of what I’ve done a “major accomplishment”, Jessamyn West put it best when she commented on ALA Think Tank: “They have managed to do the impossible: making the idea of joining ALA so that you could hang out with these folks seem like a really good idea”
Publication(s): The Pokémon Generation. School Library Journal, May 2010, 24-25.
Fostering Community Engagement from $500. Booklist Online Feature, Nov 2010.
First Amendment Rights. School Library Journal, Jan 2011, 23-24.
Links to further information: jpporcaro.com: includes my full CV and fun photos!
about.me/librarian: lots of links to my personal social media accounts. My social media accounts are a much better "gauge" for my readiness to be ALA president than the information in this application.
librarianwardrobe.com, urbanlibrariansunite.org, everylibrary.org, 8bitlibrary.com, makingithappen.me, alathinktank.com are all links to projects/organizations I have been intimately involved in. The sum total of these projects are very much "the future of librarianship" and should be considered as teams I have either /built/ or /lead/, as proof of my role as either contributor to or leader of the future of our profession.
Statement of Professional Concerns/Aspirations if Elected: My goal in librarianship is summed up by this idea which some librarians and I came up with during our time as ALA Emerging Leaders: “let’s get a librarian on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine”. But how? Make librarianship so relevant and cool that it’s a natural choice to be there.
Firstly, librarians ARE cool. “Keep doing what we’re doing” is great rule of thumb. Constantly thinking “stay relevant” can help. Continuing to “be where the people are” and reach towards new places that we “aren’t” yet will keep breaking new ground (which is why I’m so proud of starting up the Games and Gaming Round Table and Graphic Novel Member Interest Group) .
Reaching towards marginalized groups and increasing diversity within the profession - to reflect the realities of American life & culture - is not only a primary issue we are still doing poorly with, it’s also what will help change our stereotypical image of “exclusion” to one of “inclusion”.
Constant innovative work within our communities will stay important as we reach towards increasing relevance. The willingness to give up the old, the courage to try something new, as well as the wisdom to "stay the course" during trying times, will help us stay relevant to our users.
Lastly, a very important idea we can lose in our day-to-day work is a librarian's ultimate role in their community: enthusiastic, inspirational team-builders. There is nothing cooler than seeing someone we serve /succeed/. I’ve dedicated my career to being the “ultimate” inspirational & enthusiastic team-builder. This will get us much farther than a magazine cover, this will be our fuel for the 21st century. I am the person the ALA needs to lead that change. A "JP presidency" will help signal the future of the ALA and librarianship as a whole.
Member of ALA since: 2004
06. Julie B. Todaro, D.L.S.
Current Position: Dean, Library Services, Austin Community College, Austin, Texas
Type of Library: Academic
Previous Position(s): Head Library, Rio Grande Campus, Austin Community College 1984 - 2001
Assistant Professor, School of Library Science, University of Michigan, 1980 - 1984
Children's and Young Adult Librarian, Jungman Branch Library, Houston Public Library, 1972 - 1979
Degrees and Certificates: Columbia University, D.L.S, School of Library Service, 1985; The University of Texas, M.L.S.,Graduate School of Library Science,1972; The University of Texas, B.S. English and History, School of Education, 1971.
Division Affiliation(s): ACRL, LLAMA
To which Round Tables do you belong? Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT)
Were/are you a Spectrum Scholar? No
Were/are you an Emerging Leader? No
ALA and/or ALA-APA Activities: Full national service includes work in ALSC, LLAMA and the LIRT Roundtable. A more recent selection of service includes:
ALA Committees:
ALA Presidential Initiatives (Stripling) - Libraries: From Now On, Co-Chair, 2013-2014; ALA Presidential Initiatives (Alire) - Frontline Advocacy, Co-Chair, 2009-2010; ALA Presidential Initiatives (Kranich) Information Literacy Partnerships, Member, 1999 - 2000; ALA Presidential Initiative (Somerville) - Kids Can't Wait, 1996 - 1997.
ALA Division Offices/Committee Offices:
ACRL, President, 2007 - 2008; ACRL Council of Liaisons, Chair, 1998 - 2005; ACRL Presidential Initiative (Alire) - The Power of Persuasion, Member, 2005 - 2006; ACRL Presidential Initiative (Wilson) Member, 2000 -2001; ACRL, Institute for Information Literacy, Member, then Co-Chair, 1997 - 1999.
Additional national association work includes service on Reforma's First National Conference, 1995 - 1996.
Offices held in state/regional library associations, and other associations (include DATES): A selection of state/regional library association service includes:
Texas Book Festival, Steering Committee, Member, 1995 - 2012; Texas Library Association (TLA,) Public Communications Committee, Chair, 2007 - 2012; TLA Transforming Texas Libraries, Co-Chair, 2007 - 2009; TLA Legislative Committee, Chair, 2004 - 2006; Committee on Public Library Development Study, Chair , 2003 - 2004; TLA, President, 2000-2001; Texas Library Association and Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC,) Committee to Develop Standards for School Libraries, Chair, 1998 - 2001; Texas White House Conference Program Planning, Co-Chair, 1989 -1991; TLA, TALL Texan leadership (Implementation Committee Member, 1994 - 1996. Additional statewide work includes TSLAC, LSTA Board, Member, 1999 - 2000.
Honors and Awards (library and non-library, including DATES): TLA, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2012; Austin, Texas, Austin Business Journal Profiles in Power Award, 2005; YWCA Austin Educator of the Year Award, 1999; TLA, Librarian of the Year Award, 1996.
Major Accomplishments: Major accomplishments - I am very proud of national initiatives (frontline advocacy, power of persuasion, information literacy partnerships, kid's can't wait) that realize the vision and provide support for colleagues in THEIR service. I am most proud; however, of the content (I have produced and been a team member in producing) that has contributed to a body of literature that spans several decades and continues to assist libraries in achieving success.
Publication(s): Todaro, Julie. Library Management for the Digital Age: A New Paradigm. Rowman and Littlefield, 2014.
Todaro, Julie, Emergency Preparedness in Libraries. Government Institutes, 2009.
Smith, Mark and Julie Todaro. Extraordinary Customer Service, Neal-Schuman, 2006.
Links to further information: http://www.julietodaroforalapresident.org
Statement of Professional Concerns/Aspirations if Elected: Throughout my career, I have devoted my service to promoting the expertise of librarians and strong leadership and management principles in order to strengthen all libraries, regardless of type or size. My message has always been what makes libraries truly unique is the expertise within the library. The reality is that the most carefully designed facilities, ones with well thought-out access and services or with perfect resources, are not the complete library picture. We must articulate staff expertise as the most important benefit to the user as well as to the value of the library.
To achieve the delivery and understanding of this message, our profession must lead, and our professional associations must support us in these initiatives. But we also need to be out in front - identifying issues and expertise, building networks, designing content, and increasing opportunities for us to step up, reach out, and speak up on behalf of ourselves and our constituents.
I believe I am uniquely qualified to be your ALA President and, as President:
• I am committed to working with all groups within ALA to expand the design of education, training, and marketing content that illustrates and advocates for the value of libraries AND to including the design of content articulating the expertise and value of those who work in library and information settings; • I am committed to working with all groups both within ALA and externally to expand the modes, methods and opportunities for delivering messages to ensure that issues from all types and sizes of libraries are at the forefront of the 21st-century library agenda; and, • I will honor the contributions of supporters and stakeholders and ensure they continue to have positive and persuasive messages as well as opportunities to influence decision makers and civic leaders locally, at state and national levels.
Member of ALA since: 1972