#dclaboard

It has been a pleasure to serve as DCLA President for 2014-2015. Together we accomplished many goals and enriched our professional lives with great programs. Most of all I have enjoyed being in the company of DCLA members at several social events and career development programs.

Listed below are the wonderful accomplishments DCLA has achieved last year:

Sponsored 15 programs which included Who uses Libraries, KSAs and Resumes, and Where do you see yourself in five years

Increased membership every month for the past 12 months

Created a new committee called Sponsorships and Fundraising. Hosted outstanding speakers and panel discussions from Pew Research, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Transportation, IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services), and Fearless Future

Provided more social programming such as DCLA movie night at the Black Cat and Trivia Night

Advocated for librarians and libraries through events surrounding National Library Workers Day and National Library Legislative Day

Delivered the new and improved newsletter Capitol Librarian out on a monthly basis

Started a new Twitter account (follow us at DC Library Assn)

Wow! This has truly been an amazing year. Thank you to all the DCLA members and supporters who have made all these achievements possible. It has been a privilege and a honor to serve as DCLA President. Looking forward to the year ahead! Go DCLA--Developing Leaders Since 1894!!!!

Whenever I embark upon a journey I often consider the many obstacles and challenges that may occur while en-route to my destination. For example, will I encounter traffic congestion, car accidents or some malfunction to my car? I never know what to expect. To help prepare for the journey, in an effort to reduce the odds of delay and to avoid or mitigate potential obstacles I usually listen to the latest traffic report making me aware of traffic jams due to road construction and car accidents. I also try to keep my car well-tuned to help prevent potential car malfunctions.

Sometimes we face similar impediments in our careers paths but we are not tuned to the latest career report; advising and warning us on how to navigate professional hurdles. My career has been full of potential stumbling blocks and obstacles, and I am sure there are many more waiting for me. Fortunately for me I have had advisors over the years who have offered me sage advice to guide me through the tough times. Some advisors were assigned mentors; others were colleagues who wanted to see me do well and reach my potential.

As we begin a new year, I want to focus on continuing to build leaders among the DCLA community It has been my experience that effective leaders benefit from the wisdom and insight of advisors; someone to help think through choices, decisions, conundrums, and challenges. To that end, today DCLA announces a call for mentors to participate in the DCLA mentoring program. This program is for librarians who want to help a colleague navigate sometime difficult career choices.

In July, DCLA will post a call for members who want a mentor. A commitment to attend an hour-long workshop is required of all the participants in the DCLA Mentoring Program. Characteristics of a Good Mentor/Coach can be found here.

If you are willing to  continue the DCLA tradition of "Developing Leaders since 1894," contact me at [email protected].

-Julius, DCLA President

Yesterday, members were emailed an electronic ballot, please use it to vote; yes, no, or abstain, on the proposed changes to the bylaws. If you did not receive a ballot in your email please contact [email protected]. The board highly encourages members to vote YES on these changes. We need every members' vote, a two-thirds majority is needed to amend the Bylaws as proposed. The ballot will be electronically available until February 6, 2015. The vote will then be tabulated by the Bylaws Committee, and recorded and reported by the secretary. Several of the changes to the bylaws clarify, update, and streamline language to reflect current practices. There are two important that have significance to members, they are the following:

Redefinition of the membership classes and modest increase in dues, which represents the first increase to the association's dues in over 15 years!

The addition of an amendment specifying a dissolution clause, which is required for compliance with state and federal laws governing non-profit status.

Beginning on January 2, 2015, members are highly encouraged to vote up or down three proposed bylaw amendments. A majority of these changes simply clarify or streamline the language of the association's bylaws, but the two following important amendments have significance to members:

Redefinition of the membership classes and modest increase in dues, which represents the first increase to the association's dues in over 15 years!

The addition of an amendment specifying a dissolution clause, which is required for compliance with state and federal laws governing non-profit status.

The bylaws were last updated in May 2002 and, to the best of the board's knowledge, dues have not been increased since 1999.

The ballot will be electronically available for 35 days, between January 2 until February 6, 2015, and a two-thirds majority is needed to amend the Bylaws as proposed. The vote will be tabulated by the Bylaw committee, and recorded and reported by the secretary.

To see the proposed bylaw changes in detail, please visit: www.dcla.org/bylawchanges2015.

Join DCLA and DCPS (DC Public School libraries) in our campaign: #My School Librarian

We are calling all librarians, information professionals, and library supporters to volunteer for a day of service to help fellow D.C. school librarians. Volunteers will assist school librarians perform

weeding assignments, re-shelving of collections, and organizing materials within the school library.

Please save the following dates: Saturday, December 6, 2014 & Monday, January 19, 2015 (MLK Day)

More detailed information will be sent in the upcoming days. Questions? contact: [email protected]

“My guess is (it will be) about 300 years until computers are as good as, say your local reference library in search.”—Craig Silverstein, Former Director of Technology at Google.com

Who uses libraries?—that is the question!

On Thursday, October 9, DCLA is hosting the program, “Who uses libraries and who doesn’t?” with Lee Rainie, Director of Internet, Science, and Technology at Pew Research Center, at 6:30 p.m. in the Petworth Neighborhood Library.

[Photo: Lee Rainie]

In preparation for Lee Rainie's presentation, take the What Kind of Library User Are You? Quiz. Once you click on the link, please use the following code: 6c66216 and your answers will be recorded under DCLA's librarian community. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "sign in under community" to enter the code.

As president and a proud member of DCLA, I took the Library User Quiz! The quiz proudly proclaimed me as a “Library Lover,” which means I have a strikingly positive view of public libraries. Please join me and find out what kind of library user you are: Library Lover, Information Omnivores, Solid Center, Print Traditionalists, Not for Me,Young and Restless, Rooted and Roadblocked, Distant Admirers, or Off the Grid.

Whether you are a "library lover" or "off the grid," you can register and attend Rainie's event. I look forward to seeing you there!

On Tues., Sept. 23, DCLA members filled the basement of La Tasca Restaurant for the 2014 Fall Members Reception. Old and new members had the opportunity to meet and reconnect with one another over spirituous sangria and delicious tapas.

Richard Reyes-Gavilan, DCPL Executive Director, spoke on his excitement of leading the DC Public Library into the future. Before being let loose to network and learn about DCLA committees, members learned how to make sangria. The night ended with members being in high spirits and happy for another year of DCLA events and happenings.

"Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” -Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Serving is a rewarding experience. As librarians and knowledge navigators, we serve others by gracefully providing responses that are tailored by the love for our profession. We're willing to spend much of our time serving and advocating for others, it’s time we start promoting and advocating for our profession.

This month the DCLA Board hosts the Fall Member Reception at La Tasca. The reception is a chance for members to meet and connect with one another. It will also be an opportunity to learn more about DCLA Committees, Interest Groups, and how to serve on them. During this year’s reception, members can participate in a class on making sangria; as well, as learn the key ingredients to being an invaluable part of DCLA.

DCLA extends an open invitation to our Fall Member Reception on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 6 p.m. at La Tasca Restaurant. We would like to invite our members, friends, and supporters to come ready to party and leave ready to serve! Register for the Fall Member Reception at this link.