As the ALA/AASL spring election season approaches, AASL is using this public forum as a venue to introduce our 2018 slate for the AASL ballot. Each candidate was given the opportunity to respond to this question: “What is the biggest/most important change that AASL could make in the next 3 years?” 

Read the candidates’ responses over the next few days. Be informed. Be involved. Your voice and your vote make a difference. As the election opens on March 12, be ready to cast your vote. It is important for all AASL members to exercise the right to vote in ALA’s spring election process.

The candidates for the ISS Representative to the Board are:

• Alpha DeLap
• Phoebe Warmack

Statements and/or videos were a voluntary option offered to all candidates.

Phoebe Warmack

This is an inspiring question. Inspiring not only because of where the mind goes when posed a future-oriented question such as this but also because it advocates for self-reflection. It is exciting to see AASL look at itself in that bright light and ask “What could we be doing better?”

Relationships lead to connections which, in turn, increase visibility and recognition. The worlds of education, information and access are shifting. As classrooms have shifted from ‘sage on the stage’ to more active discussion and project-based learning environments what is needed from librarians and libraries has evolved. Today’s opportunity is how we help our communities engage with this transforming landscape. In many ways, libraries are now more significantly integrated parts of the academic program. Independent school librarians have a shared experience of being largely autonomous and as such to be in positions to try new instructional techniques within our schools; we also have a diversity of perspectives shaped by our school missions. This combination makes us a rich resource for the growth and development of AASL membership at large. We can share that with and learn from public school librarians so that we may advocate collectively.

What is the biggest change AASL could make? AASL could embrace inquiry. It could ask us, in the trenches, “What role(s) do you play in your school? What do you do well in each role? What do you wish you did better? Who knows you do this? How do they know? What role(s) do you want to play? Why?” Synthesizing these answers into a coherent understanding would generate shared wisdom to benefit us, carry our vision and collectively shape our path forward. The roles and relationships among you integrate to make us stronger; to position us to achieve recognition as indispensable educational leaders.

Author: Audrey Church, Leadership Development Committee Chair and 2017-2018 AASL Past President

Categories: Community