Board Candidate

I believe that state library associations play a critical role in developing and sharing best practices, developing library leaders, and designing and delivering educational workshops through their memberships, and relentlessly advocating for legislation and public awareness that leads to healthier libraries. I’ve worked in libraries for 30 years and over those years I’ve been active in the New York Library Association, Colorado Association of Libraries, Florida Library Association, the Oregon Library Association, and now the California Library Association. I believe that CLA creates a community or practice that brings library workers and library advocates together to share challenges and innovations in order to raise the bar on library services statewide. Libraries statewide continue to scramble to acquire the funding needed to provide the basic library services that our communities deserve. I want to serve CLA and its membership to ensure that we have the resources, strategies, and tools in place that allow us to focus on the right things and to define and measure our successes in order to demonstrate the value that libraries bring to California communities. I also pledge to work tirelessly to encourage CLA to look far downfield and get to the table early on issues such as the recreational legalization of marijuana to ensure that libraries are considered when lawmakers are deciding how to develop regulations and taxing structures. Too often library staffers and library supporters stay out of site and therefor out of mind of those who develop policies that impact libraries. I won't let that happen. I ask for your vote and will be honored to work on your behalf.

Biography

Brett Lear is the Library Director of the Sonoma County Library. Previously, he was the Director of the Martin County Library System in southeast Florida. Brett received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Florida and his Master of Library Science degree from Florida State University. Brett has worked in libraries for 30 years and has held positions at the University of Florida, New York Public Library, Florida State University, Jefferson County Public Library (CO), Multnomah County Library (OR), and Martin County Library System (FL). He is an active member of the American Library Association (ALA) and has served on national committees such as the Services to Adults Committee and the Library Services to the Spanish Speaking Committee. He is currently the chair on the NorthNet Library System. He has authored a first and second edition of Adult Programs in the Library, published by ALA Editions. Brett is currently enrolled in the executive MBA program at Sonoma State University. He lives is Santa Rosa with his wife Marjorie, who is also a librarian. They have a 3-year-old-son, Wade.