 | Biography
A little bit about me . . .
My journey in librarianship has always been born from a love of working with and connection to people.
I have a BA in Anthropology and briefly worked as a volunteer archeologist.
I received my MLIS from San Jose State University and spent a lot of time focusing on the cross section of public libraries and emerging technology.
I am a fierce advocate for the mental and emotional health of library staff.
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I love movies - especially Star Wars (my fave is The Empire Strikes Back although I always like to shout-out Return of the Jedi because I love Ewoks so darned much).
As a librarian I am always looking for new ways to serve communities that I am not currently reaching.
I have a very sweet and furry kitty named Fatty Pancake.
I love YA fiction. I just finished (and loved) Elizabeth Acevedo’s Clap When You Land.
Candidate StatementCLA provides opportunities for libraries to connect, share information, and promote innovation. Library staff in California are diverse and serve an incredibly diverse population. We are all doing revolutionary things and with everything in the world evolving so rapidly we are stretching into new areas at an unprecedented rate. I am passionate about supporting California libraries as we move into the next phase of our work. Throughout my career I have repeatedly displayed an ability to apply creative problem solving, critical thinking, and intentionality to everything I do. I want to find new ways to connect libraries so that we can all share, support, and learn from one another.
We are in a moment of extreme change. This change is affecting every facet of our work and our lives. I would be honored to use my skills to support the California Library Association in its goal to serve and support library staff at all levels.
Questionaire
1. How do you define leadership? The leaders that I most aspire to emulate are the ones who lead from a place of trust, transparency, and integrity. To me that means someone who sincerely does their best to show up mentally and emotionally every day to support the individuals and / or the organization they are leading. Doing that requires intention, awareness, and presence. I strive to practice these and bring my whole self to my leadership and service as much as possible.
2. Why are you interested in this position? I am interested in gaining a broader perspective of libraries in California and finding ways to support them in their work.
3. How would you describe your personal leadership/communication style? In recent years I have put into the practice the art of taking space/ making space. Being mindful of the privileged identities I hold in leadership and communication is critical in striving for inclusion. Although I feel comfortable advocating for issues that are important to me, knowing when to step back and make space for other ideas and points of view is important.
I always strive for collaboration in my approach to leadership. Creating a judgment-free space for individuals to share information, ideas, and feedback creates a strong overall team which makes innovation and change truly possible.
4. What strengths would you bring to the position? One of my greatest strengths is in connection. I love connecting to people and connecting people to each other and to resources. At the end of the day that’s what has always drawn me to librarianship. I believe libraries are at their best when they are places for connections. I’d love the opportunity to use this passion and ability to foster a space for professional connections in the Association.
5. What experience do you bring to this position? I had the opportunity to serve on the 2019-20 CLA Leadership Cohort with some wonderful library leaders and amazing mentors throughout California. In 2018-19 I was selected to serve in a Leadership Development Cohort within my own organization. Both experiences allowed me to grow and gain skills in team building, emotional intelligence, and big-picture organization.
Within my organization I am an active member of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee and the Teen Services committee. In the last two years I have served as Chair of the AccessABILITY committee which is dedicated to advocating for inclusion for individuals with disabilities in libraries.
I have had experience coordinating and providing multiple trainings, leading groups, working in collaborative environments, and planning system-wide programming and services. I believe these strengths will lend themselves to this position.
6. What issues or trends are particularly informing your work at this time?• Equitable & inclusive spaces, programs, and approaches to patron services
• Trauma-informed service to the public
• Disability awareness
• The digital divide in our communities
• Caring for and connecting library staff
7. Who are the thought leaders (in libraries or in other fields) who interest you?Stacey Abrams - I was lucky enough to see her at the PLA conference this year and it was a truly powerful experience. Her work championing public education and fighting voter suppression inspires me to consistently advocate for access and inclusion at all levels.
Brené Brown - Her take on being radically vulnerable and using it to make you a stronger professional and human have informed a lot of my work.
Jason Reynolds - First off, he is easily one of my favorite authors. Also, his work in social and political activism is a powerful inspiration for me.
8. Who are the regional and statewide stake-holders libraries need to be in communication with? • Community members
• Organizations supporting marginalized groups, specifically:
o Unsheltered citizens
o BIPOC community members
o LGBTQ+ community members
o New arrivals/ immigrants.
• Local school districts / California Department of Education
• Friends of the Library organizations
• City councils
• Prison systems
9. What do you feel are the most critical challenges and opportunities facing California libraries right now? As access to the internet increasingly becomes a necessity in households it is incumbent upon libraries to find innovative ways to support patrons in this regard. Increasing access to Wi-Fi hotspots, access to local Wi-Fi, and lending laptops and other computer equipment are great ways in which California libraries can support their communities in this regard.
Additionally, libraries must strive to provide equity-based programming and services that are truly inclusive to all community members. This means examining the processes in place in libraries to evaluate areas of inequity and address them directly whether this be through collections, programs, staffing, or patron interaction.
2020 has been a year of challenges for everyone. Many libraries are facing funding cuts, layoffs, and closures. Obviously, these issues are at the forefront of our minds and hearts. But in some ways the closure of California library doors has forced us to think about providing content in new ways. We are poised to make big, exciting changes in the way we connect to and serve our communities.
10. Describe your experience serving on Association committees and/or interest groups. Although I haven’t had the opportunity to serve on any California Library Association committees yet, I believe that my experience serving on local committees paired with my leadership and collaboration skills makes me a viable candidate for this position. I have been a member of California Library Association (CLA), the Public Library Association (PLA), the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), and the American Library Association (ALA) throughout my career and actively attend library conferences whenever possible.
11. Describe your network of connections with library professionals and library stakeholders in California. My professional journey in librarianship started when I was hired as a consultant on the Veterans Connect @ the Library grant. For two years I spent time traveling to other library systems to meet staff who were implementing the program. In the process I heard so much about the ways in which libraries were finding spaces to meet their communities at their point of need. I was able to assist in pursuing additional grant funding which had me working closely with the AmeriCorps organization and other libraries seeking funding. It was a great way to get my feet wet before jumping in to work in a library setting.
I’ve served on many committees within Sacramento Public Library, Chairing the AccessABILITY committee after the passing of my good friend Amber Clark in 2018. In 2019 I was accepted in the 2019-20 CLA Leadership Cohort which really gave me a taste for working with individuals from other library organizations. It was a wonderful opportunity to network and learn from other professionals in the field.
During my time with the library I have worked with the Mayor of Sacramento, the Mayor Pro Tem, Assembly members, and local representatives. In every branch where I have served, I have made it a priority to reach out to organizations serving the population to form partnerships allowing the library to further its reach in communities. Through my work on the AccessABILITY committee I have formed and nurtured partnerships with stakeholders throughout Sacramento serving individuals with disabilities.
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