#dclaleadership

At DCLA’s 2015 Awards Ceremony on the beautiful Drexel University rooftop, DCLA members welcomed the following new and continuing board members: Yvonne Dooley, Vice-President/President Elect, Victor Benitez, Secretary, Eboni Henry, Advocacy Director, and Kimberly Knight, Career & Leadership Development Director. Christina Miracle Bailey highlighted some of the accomplishments of her presidency and passed on the President’s Gavel to Julius C. Jefferson, Jr. Beacher J.E. Wiggins, Director for Acquisitions & Bibliographic Access at Library of Congress, received the 2015 Ainsworth Rand Spofford President's Award and Victor Benitez, The Labs at D.C. Public Library, received the Elizabeth W. Stone Outstanding New Leader Award.

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

The District of Columbia Library Association needs a few people to step up and lead our Association over the next couple of years. Without these leaders, the Association may not be able to continue providing our community with the types of programming and information we rely on. DCLA currently needs candidates to step up to the following positions:

President-Elect/Vice President

The President-Elect/Vice President acts as the Program Chair for the Association and coordinates all events, programs, receptions, and lectures throughout the first year of their term. In the second year, this person convenes and Chairs the Board of Directors and provides leadership for the Association. In the third year, this person takes on special projects and sits on the nominating committee. The President-Elect/Vice President can draw on Interest Group Chairs and other members of the association to host and support the programming provided.

Secretary

The Secretary acts as the primary record keeper for the Association, documenting all official Board meetings, Association activities and programs, while facilitating communication between the Board and members. This person assists the Board with all activities and programming, and answers all external inquires about the Association. The Secretary also serves in the Publicity Committee, which oversees the publication of the Capital Librarian newsletter.

Advocacy Director

The Advocacy Director maintains the Association abreast on important information about the profession. This person communicates and leads all advocacy efforts with the help from the Board, this may include advocacy campaigns or advocacy trainings. The Advocacy Director chairs the Library Legislative Day Committee.

Career & Leadership Development Director

The Career & Leadership Development Director distributes job postings to the Association via the listserv and/or website. This person develops and oversees all career and leadership development programming. The Career & Leadership Director recruits and mentors Joint Spring Workshop representatives.

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.

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great!" -Zig Ziglar

As DCLA begins a new year, I would like to say thank you to the members for welcoming me as President.

Recently, I was asked, "why did you decide to run for DCLA President?" My answer, "librarians are awesome, who doesn't want to be president of awesome?" It is very rewarding to serve fellow librarians in our community, the Nation's Capital. By providing leadership, professionalism and networking programs, DCLA's goal is to help shape and develop your goals and future aspirations for your library career and beyond.

This year we plan to conduct programs that will inspire conversations as well as ignite ideas. Some of these program will include the following:

Five things I wish I would have known before I became a librarian

Writing Grants for Your Library: a Workshop

Are you LinkedIn?

Your Career Beyond Librarianship

We are seeking volunteers for the following interest groups and committees: Membership; Federal Relations; Intellectual Freedom. Help shape our association by letting your voice be heard, volunteer!

As always, I am open to listening to your suggestions and ideas. If you would like to volunteer or simply say, "hello," feel free to reach out to me by email or during a program.

Thank you for making our association great. Now let's get started!