2018 CLA ELECTIONS

Candidates for President: Chad Helton  Hillary Theyer   Candidates for Secretary Stephanie Beverage Melanie Lightbody    Candidates for Board  Jayanti Addleman  John Alita  Kris Amaral  Chris Brown  Cindy Chadwick  Diana Garcia   Eva Mitnick  Shawn Thrasher  Michele Villagran  Emily Weak

Kris Amaral, Monterey County Free Libraries

Board at Large

Kris has been a Managing Librarian for the Monterey County Free Libraries since 2016 where she oversees Technology, Multiple Branch Operations, and Support Services. She earned a BA in Liberal Studies with honors and a 5^th year multiple subject teaching credential from California State University Sacramento.  She also holds a Master’s in Library and Informational Science from San Jose State University.  Before working at MCFL, Kris worked her way from being a Librarian I to being both the Interim Deputy Librarian and the Technical Services Manager for the Library as well as the Community Services Department in Salinas.  She is presently the co-chair for the MOBAC Technology Committee.

 

Candidate Statement

1. How do you define leadership?
   I feel a good leader is someone who has the ability to inspire and empower others. A good leader is an exceptional listener as well as an outstanding internal and external communicator. He/she is accountable, honest, creative, thoughtful, and passionate about his/her job. He/she is good at looking at the organization as a whole and making balanced decisions that are good for the community as well as the people that work for him/her. He/she is someone who emboldens loyalty from those who work for him/her.
   
   
2. Why are you interested in this position?
   I am interested in this position because there are a lot of changes going on in library world today in regard to library structure and funding and I would like to add my voice to the conversations on a state level. Also, with Jayanti Addleman’s term ending this year, I feel it is important to have someone represent the pertinent issues facing coastal libraries in Monterey County and our surrounding communities as part of the Pacific Library Partnership.
   
   
3. How would you describe your personal leadership/communication style?
   I tend to be a combination of a personal/functional communicator. I spend a lot of time listening and trying to understand situations that are posed to me, so I can make educated decisions. I make a point to get to know staff in order to learn about their passion in life so I can match their interests with the organization’s initiatives and strategies. I am big on cross training. This allows me to progress on projects with staff by-in on a set timeline. When I communicate, I try to be as clear and concise as possible, but I also invite questions comments, and concerns to keep the dialogue open for clarification. I feel it is important to have scheduled meetings with your key stakeholders, internally and externally. This has been a powerful tool for me in opening up communication and meaningful feedback exchange. I feel this is a vital part of clear understanding that leads to meeting the needs of the community as well as the staffs as we make changes and grow as an organization.
   
   
4. What strengths would you bring to the position?
   My biggest strengths are my abilities to bring people together in a conversation so that all people involved feel their ideas have value as well as speaking out for those who are underserved. I am also good at keep everyone on task, setting goals, and following through on initiatives.
   
   
5. What experience do you bring to this position?
   I have been in a leadership position in a library environment for almost 8 years in various roles. I also have experience being on executive teams in both a county and city library environments. I have been a liaison for many Friends groups during my career (2012-present). At present, I liaise with 5 groups. I have been a MOBAC Reference Committee (2012-2016) and MOBAC Technology Committee (2012-present). I am the chair of the later right now. I feel I am good negotiator, strategic thinker, good problem solver, and I bring a diversity voice to the group.
   
   
6. What issues or trends are particularly informing your work at this time?
   Issues that are particularly informing in my work at this time include early literacy, diversity in children’s literature, digital literacy, equitable access, fake news, and intellectual freedom. Trends include focusing on targeting library services to all library groups’ diverse needs, reinventing how library services are delivered, knowing who comes in the door and who does not come in the door to engage the whole community in library issues, focusing on emerging technologies, and rebranding the library’s image.
   
   
7.  Who are the thought leaders (in libraries or in other fields) who interest you?
   - Jacinda Ahern, Prime Minister New Zealand, youngest female head of state
   - Leymah Gbowee, President, Gbowee Peace Foundation, college scholarships for women in West Africa, student   
     activist as a voice for change in policy nationwide
   - Ma Jun, Environmentalist, China, nonprofit Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs continues to wield influence, with reports that call out corporate polluters
   - Greg Lucas, State Librarian of California
   - Michael Stephens, Professor San Jose State University and lecturer,Tame the Web, Transparent Library
   
   
8. Who are the regional and statewide stakeholders libraries need to be in communication with?
   Local supervisors in your district (Monterey County: Luis Alejo, Mary L. Adams, Simon Salinas, John Phillips, and Jane Parker), Friends groups, local library foundations, local city officials, community members, library staff, United States Representative: Jimmy Panetta, State Librarian: Greg Lucas, and United States Senator: Diane Feinstein.
   
   
9. What do you feel are the most critical challenges and opportunities facing California libraries right now?
   Net neutrality is a concern due to providers being given the right to give preferential treatment to particular sites and services further widening the digital divide. Intellectual freedom, and equitable access are becoming a growing concern due to the push for all things to be online, furthering the gap in digital literacy of community members. Another challenge is teaching community members how to get to the bottom of factual information.
   
   
10. Describe your experience serving on Association committees and/or interest groups.
    1. Friends of the Salinas Public Library (2012-2016): liaison and worked to put on SRP programs and Girl Rising
    2. Friends of Carmel Valley Library (2016 - present): liaison and attend meetings
    3. Friends of the Castroville Library (2016 -present): liaison and attend meetings
    4. Friends of the Marina Library (2016 -present): liaison and attend meetings
    5. Friends of the Big Sur Library (2016 -present): liaison and attend meetings
    6. Friends of the Seaside Library (2016 -present): liaison and attend meetings
    
    
11. Describe your network of connections with library professionals and library stakeholders in California.

•  Jayanti Addleman, County Librarian, Monterey County Free Library: boss
  
• Mark Anderson, Lifelige Co-founder: set up trainings for area libraries for Oculus and HTC VIVE
• Yamila Alvarez, Assistant Director PLP: collaborated analytics on demand workshops at our library branch sites
• Scott Bauer, Director, Pacific Grove Library: presently working together on committee discussing possibilities of a KOHA/Link+ consortium for Salinas Public, Harrison Memorial, Monterey Public, Pacific Grove Library, Monterey County Free, and San Benito County
• Laura Einstadter, County Librarian, Amador County: mentor in CLA Mentorship program
• Julia Foster, Executive Director of the Foundation of Monterey County: helped with annual south and north county fundraisers
• Carol Frost, PLP Director: work together as MOBAC Tech chair
• Dolly Goyle, President, CLA: participated in PLP Leadership and Management together Susan Hanks, State Library Project Monitor, Rural Library: corresponding on ARSL business
• Paul Lee, Korean-American Community Foundation of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Hollister: collaborated to get $5000 donation from Korean government to fund the Korean collection at Salinas Public and put on Korean Culture Faire
• Jane Light: facilitated PLP Leadership and Management group I participated in for 1 year Jacob Martinez: Digital Nest: initiated partnership with Salinas Public Library
• Martha Martinez, Superintendent of Salinas Union High School District: initiated collaboration to make Salinas Public a Footsteps to Brilliance training site; served on CASP (Community Alliance for Safety and Peace) committee together
• Linda McGlone: Stryve Project Coordinator: collaborated to get Youth Prevention Program at César Chavez Library; served on CASP (Community Alliance for Safety and Peace) committee together
• Barbara Meister: Monterey Bay Aquarium: worked with her to organize a Monterey Bay Aquarium Volunteer/Job Fair, to bring Youth Ocean Programming to the libraries and aquarium live feed, and coordinate Aquarium Passes
• Maggie Melone-Echiburu: NASA SEMAA Director: organized library staff participation in training for NASA and STEM programming for Salinas Public and Monterey County Free Library youth
• Cristian Mendelson: Executive Director: Fishes and Loaves Computers: collaborated to form beginning computer classes, giving free computers to patrons in need who finish 10-week computer classes done by the at Salinas Public and Monterey County Free Libraries; worked on MOU together
• Nick Nelson, Future Citizen’s Foundation: brought First Tee programming to the César Chavez and John Steinbeck Library
• Alena Porte: Ventana Wildlife Society: initiated collaboration for outdoor programs for youth at Salinas Public and Monterey County Free Libraries; refined MOU together
• Efrain Ramirez, Child Abuse Prevention Council: collaborated story time programs for youth/parents to educate about child abuse
• Aurelio Salazar, Jr., LULAC President: collaborated use of space at César Chavez Library for ongoing scholarship programming for youth
• Juan Sanchez, lecturer, CSUMB: collaboration to get Service to Learn students to help out at our Homework Centers
• Cathy Schleumbrecht, Impower: Girls Inc. Program collaboration
• Richard Baines, Professor and Chairman CSUMB: music in the library collaboration
• Marissa Serena, Arts Coordinator, Boys and Girls Club: collaborated on art event for the Marti Mulford Youth Art Exhibit and reception.
• Susan Shillinglaw, Director of the National Steinbeck Center: collaborated on Salinas Valley Comicon
• Cary Ann Siegfried: Director of Library and Community Services Department, Salinas: presently working together on committee discussing possibilities of a KOHA/Link+ consortium for Salinas Public, Harrison Memorial, Monterey Public, Pacific Grove Library, Monterey County Free, and San Benito County; served on CASP (Community Alliance for Safety and Peace) committee together
• Kelly Sorensen: Ventana Wildlife Society, Executive Director: worked on initial draft of MOU for youth programming
• Judith Sulsona, David and Lucile Packard Foundation: Salinas Youth Initiative, co-liaison for homework center grant for Sherwood Elementary
• Steve Vagnini, Guitars Not Guns: program for families that gives free guitar lessons and a free guitar per family to program graduates
• Mike Valenti, VARlibraries, Creative Director: set up trainings for area libraries for Oculus and HTC VIVE
• Inga Waite, Director, Monterey Public Library: presently working together on committee discussing possibilities of a KOHA/Link+ consortium for Salinas Public, Harrison Memorial, Monterey Public, Pacific Grove Library, Monterey County Free, and San Benito County
• Ashley Wright, Director, Harrison Memorial Library: presently working together on committee discussing possibilities of a KOHA/Link+ consortium for Salinas Public, Harrison Memorial, Monterey Public, Pacific Grove Library, Monterey County Free, and San Benito County
• Frances “Pinkie” Weesner, Harmony at Home Olweus Bully Prevention: brought program to Salinas Public and Monterey County Free Libraries; served on CASP (Community Alliance for Safety and Peace) committee together