YOUTH SERVICE MEMBERS

ALA election ballots are ready and we are urging you to point your mouse or pen towards the best choice for President: Christine Lind Hage. Members of ALA expect their President to walk on water. Christine comes as close to that as anyone we know: she can swim upstream, or go with the flow; and she can paddle and steer at the same time without going in circles. She is our candidate of choice.

First and foremost, as members of ALSC, AASL, and YALSA we want to know from any presidential candidate what commitment she will make to youth services and we can answer that: hers is a full-fledged, dedicated, and supportive one.

It’s rare that the three of us jointly lend our names to endorse one candidate. Collectively, we have served over 50 years on ALA Council and we have each worked with Christine on numerous association tasks, from small sub-committees to large, association-wide congresses. We can vouch for her insightfulness, her energetic problem solving, her skill in navigating through the ins and outs of ALA and, most important, her ability to get things accomplished. Her on-the-job experiences have provided her with a realistic perspective on libraries, their needs, their objectives, and role in their communities.

Simply said, she is the embodiment of the ideals and values of ALA. Her commitment to listen and lead will effectively champion the cause of libraries—and our cause as well: making library service to young people vital.

ALA needs a President who recognizes that youth services are fundamental. Christine Lind Hage has our vote and we hope yours as well.

Julie Cummins, ALA Council; Former Coordinator, Children’s Services, New York Public Library; Author

Ken Haycock, ALISE President, ALA Council, Past President AASL, Founding Editor of Teacher Librarian Journal, Ken Haycock & Associates

Ann Symons, ALA Past President, Past ALA Treasurer, Librarian, Anglo American School Moscow, Symons et. al Library Consulting