What do you plan to do to help promote children’s services? As President of ALA, my theme will be "21st Century Literacies: Libraries = Literacy = Learning = Liberty." Literacy is a foundational value in all types of libraries and librarians have a professional dedication to teaching all the skills that support literacy, whether the learner/ patron is a preschooler, school age, or lifelong learner. Often people assume that children use libraries only to learn the ABC’s and joy of reading, but libraries have become the gateway to the new literacies of multimedia information for all patrons – including children. I would encourage and support people and initiatives that promote the understanding that the young citizens of this new century must have equal access to traditional library holdings as well as to the latest information technologies. More than ever we need librarians who are equipped to help patrons of all ages keep pace with emerging technologies. Children and adults also need to be able to count on school, public, and special libraries to serve as a resource, guide, and pathway to all the knowledge that is being shared in our society. As a public librarian for over 33 years, I realize that the heart of public library service is the children’s services department. Children’s librarians are uniquely privileged to introduce the world of literacy and learning to children through the provision of: * Creative and accessible programming for children and their caregivers, * Exciting, inspirational, high quality, entertaining materials, and * Environments that encourage exploration, discovery, and learning. I will work to promote the early reader’s initiative that ALSC and PLA are currently developing. Top notch media centers and school librarians are essential to keeping students on the path to reading success and a lifelong love of reading and learning. This is why it is so important that we have media centers in every school in the country. Additionally, it is so important that library schools continue to support and expand a curriculum that attract and trains professionals who will continue and expand the important role that children’s libraries play in our culture and country.   How do you plan to support librarians who work with kids? I would invite children’s librarians to work with me to develop concise, attractive and practical materials that would explain the importance and role of children’s services in the nation’s battle against illiteracy. These information materials would be made available free to all librarians, not just those who are members of ALA. I will work with the ALA Washington Office to make sure that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, renamed “No Child Left Behind”, is appropriately funded. The promise that all children can learn is noble. However, if it is not equitably and fully funded, the promise is empty. There are thousands of creative, talented and energetic children’s librarians doing important work with our nation’s children in libraries. I believe that ALA Recruitment Assembly can use its inspirational examples to entice new professionals into the important work of librarianship. Children’s librarians lay the foundation for all library experiences that follow childhood. Their important work should be recognized, appreciated, and rewarded.

 

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