Volunteer Coordinator, and he is proud to have even completed a short stint as the Office Manager for San Diego Public Library’s literacy program. Most recently, he served as a Principal Librarian with San Diego County Library, where he oversaw 9 very different branches (two of which were on wheels) across the region. In late 2019, Bill sidestepped into a non-library job when he accepted an opportunity to become a Program Manager in the City of San Diego’s Public Utilities Department, overseeing the Customer Success Team. However, it didn't take long for Bill to realize his heart is in libraries, and he is excited to be returning to profession as a Principal Librarian with Chula Vista Public Library at the end of October 2020. He lives in the San Diego area with his wife, two kids, two dogs, three cats, and a plethora of other small pets (including a tarantula).
Candidate StatementSome of the most amazing individuals I’ve met during my career have told me tales of how they dreamed of being in the library profession since they were young children. If I were to go back in time and tell the 17-year-old version of me that I would someday aspire to run for a California Library Association Board position, he would probably first ask “Wait, what’s California Library Association?” before asking “Why?” Thinking back on my own history, my career goals were quite varied and included (to name just a handful), a flight attendant, a video game music composer, and a heavy metal guitarist, but nowhere on the list was “librarian.”
With that in mind, I’m still more than a little surprised (albeit in the best possible way) that I spent the majority of my life working in libraries, but I am grateful that my course in life played out as it did. As the years went on, a true passion for libraries grew within me, enough so that in the past half-decade I felt the drive to become more involved on a professional level. Yet, it was not until my recent experience of stepping outside of the library world and working in a different career field altogether that I felt a genuine calling and aspiration to embrace the possibility of a leadership role on a larger scale.
Sometimes finding yourself on the outside looking in helps you see the bigger picture, and I quickly realized I was missing something important: the sense of community that libraries brought to my life. I missed the deep connections I formed with patrons, coworkers, colleagues, volunteers, partners, stakeholders, and so many others, and I missed being a part of the larger library community that has become so special to me. Becoming a Board member will provide me the opportunity to, in at least some small way, contribute to the profession that has done so much to make me a better person, and I hope my involvement allows me to extend the same sense of inspiration and inclusion to others that so many individuals in the library community have done for me.
Questionaire
1. How do you define leadership? Leadership is nothing without humility and heart. A genuine leader sees and appreciates the individuality and value in each person, and tailors their approach to make sure they provide the genuine support, encouragement, and honesty that is needed to help others succeed. At the same time, leaders need to continually be learning, quite often directly from the individuals they are leading. Nobody in a leadership role will ever be perfect, but as long as they approach leadership with an open heart, open mind, and open eyes, there will always be the opportunity to make a positive difference.
2. Why are you interested in this position? I feel I owe a great deal to the California library community, as the individuals I have built relationships with locally and across the state have done so much to provide me with support, empathy, guidance, mentoring, and simply helping me believe in myself. Throughout my career I have struggled with feelings of being worthy enough to genuinely hold the roles I’ve found myself in, and it is the selflessness and dedication of others that has in large part allowed me to find success. By serving on the California Library Association Board, I will have the opportunity to not only give back to an organization that has improved my life in myriad ways, but to help others working in libraries feel seen, heard, valued, included, and inspired. I will give it my best effort, bringing fresh energy and ideas and a focus on looking outward, and I am confident I can contribute in important and meaningful ways.
3. How would you describe your personal leadership/communication style? In a leadership role, I always strive to approach everything I do in a way that is open, honest, and from the heart. I believe I am most effective when I build genuine connections with others based on trust, empathy, understanding, and open communication. Therefore, relationship-building is at the forefront of how I operate and communicate as a leader. One of the principles that guides how I approach work (and life) is the Buddhist idea of Right Livelihood — that is, because we are infinitely interconnected, it is important to take on careers and other similar roles with the sole intent of bringing benefit to those around us. A quote I think of almost every day and guides how I approach leadership comes from Dōgen Zenji: “Just practice good, do good for others, without thinking of making yourself known so that you may gain reward. Really bring benefit to others, gaining nothing for yourself. This is the primary requisite for breaking free of attachments to the self.” No leader is capable of offering every single thing to every single person, but by approaching leadership in a heartfelt and open manner, it is possible to make a positive difference.
4. What strengths would you bring to the position? More than anything, I am confident I will bring fresh ideas and energy to the Board, and I will couple those qualities with curiosity, enthusiasm, humility, and inclusiveness. I am a strong communicator who values making genuine connections and finding harmony with others, and these traits are of exceptional value in a world where there are so many factors at work causing division and disunity. Libraries, along with almost any other institution or organization, are facing unprecedented challenges, and there are no clear answers. However, we have a powerful community of library staff members and supporters within the state of California and beyond, and one of my strengths is knowing when I can use my role to elevate others and help amplify their voices. It is important to lift up others and, when needed, step aside into a supporting role in order to provide space and visibility for a far wider richness of voices and viewpoints for the benefit of our profession and those we serve. As a member of the California Library Association Board, I will always do my best and employ my strengths to listen, make room, and advocate for others.
5. What experience do you bring to this position? It’s sometimes hard for me to believe that I’ve worked in libraries for over a quarter of a century, let alone that I’m no longer that 17-year-old kid who was shelving books a few days a week. But I am fortunate enough to have worked my way up through the profession to a leadership position, and I have an appreciation for the importance of all positions within a library organization. I look back upon the multitude of experiences in my career, noting the many different communities I’ve had the pleasure to serve and how many incredible individuals I’ve been able to work with in almost every conceivable way, and it gives me the confidence to believe in myself and know that I can be of benefit to California Library Association. My current role as a Program Manager in a Public Utilities Department, particularly being in a new position during a pandemic situation and having to expedite my learning process, has provided me an interesting and unique opportunity to understand and be involved in the larger workings of a City organization beyond my previous limited perspective from a Library department. In short, I bring not only a wealth of experience across almost every conceivable public library position, but I do so with an understanding and appreciation that I still have much to learn and will keep looking outward as I serve on the Board.
6. What issues or trends are particularly informing your work at this time?Balancing a need to adapt and be flexible during times of change while still considering the realities of the human experience is an area to which I have given much attention and thought. There is an expectation and, in many cases, a genuine obligation and pressure for libraries to continue providing a certain output of services despite numerous challenges and inhibitors. There are no easy answers, and the uncertainty of safety comes in many forms, whether it be ensuring the physical health of staff and community members or the financial health of dwindling budgets. Not only do we need to find ways to keep libraries healthy during these times, but most importantly we need to identify ways to protect our internal and external communities in every way.
Relatedly, I have been very interested in the concept of libraries as a service versus just being a place. I love library buildings, as they always hold a feeling of magic and wonder for me, but we all know libraries are substantially more than buildings, books, databases, and programs. However, translating our in-library services to new delivery methods or new services altogether is a difficult prospect. While libraries as a collective have yet to find the answer for what services will look like in the imminent and far-off future, I’m excited to be involved in helping solve that riddle and in shaping the ways in which we will continue to serve our communities in integral, important ways.
7. Who are the thought leaders (in libraries or in other fields) who interest you?When I think of thought leaders, I typically consider it from the perspective of individuals who have had the most direct influence on my own thinking and viewpoints. I find a great deal of inspiration from unexpected sources while I’m reading books, watching movies, listening to music, or playing games. But it is from direct contact and interactions with others that I gain the most.
During my Eureka! Leadership Institute experience, I had the honor of making connections with many incredible library leaders and peers (many of whom have since gone on to become amazing leaders in their own right). One of the individuals I was fortunate enough to build a meaningful relationship with is (Hayward Library Director) Jayanti Addleman, and she has filled a very important role in my life ever since. Jayanti is known for being a champion for the underdog, and she demonstrates how to be a strong, incredible leader who is able to weave compassion and kindness into everything she does. Over the past five years I have reached out to Jayanti as a mentor, as a colleague, and as a friend, and she has always made time for me, as I know she does for everyone who seeks her guidance. Like Jayanti, embracing and helping to foster a culture of leadership that puts individuals first and foremost will forever be at the core of what I do.
8. Who are the regional and statewide stakeholders libraries need to be in communication with? The California Library community has a strong foundation of cooperation, particularly amongst public libraries, but I believe more can be done to strengthen the bonds of camaraderie and collaboration with other types of libraries, including academic, school, medical, and special libraries. Special consideration also needs to be made for rural and small libraries, who are often not able to participate in public library-centric professional activities for reasons such as budget limitations and physical distance.
Another key stakeholder group can be found in politicians, which is no surprise to most librarians, particularly those operating in systems with more direct involvement from mayors, councils, and boards. However, the opportunity exists for libraries to be more intentional and, in some cases, more active in advocacy is crucial. In recent years, there has been a conscious effort to advance advocacy, and while organizations like EveryLibrary are already doing outstanding work, we need to keep building on those efforts.
Finally, I feel there are overlooked stakeholders within our own profession, namely the staff members and supporters who don’t feel included or, sadly, don’t feel welcome within professional organizations such as California Library Association. Encouraging more involvement by expanding opportunities, giving room for new and underrepresented voices, and simply being willing to listen will allow for increased communication, understanding, and connectedness.
9. What do you feel are the most critical challenges and opportunities facing California libraries right now? Perhaps what is currently the most visible challenge is the uncertainty of funding, as this is a frightening obstacle almost every library system is facing. Given the instability caused by being in the midst of a global pandemic, practically every library system is not only having to make rapid, unexpected adjustments to staffing and services, but gauging the road ahead and being able to do effective planning is proving to be difficult. The good news is an opportunity that comes from this challenge is a complete reshaping of what services are offered and how they are provided. Idea-sharing and peer support amongst library systems will be of the utmost importance, as will being fluid and willing to change along with communities and conditions.
Second, how libraries are responding to critical social issues such as systemic racism must be paramount. Though there is a traditional idea that libraries are neutral institutions, conversations unpacking this viewpoint in recent years have been essential for uncovering inequities and identifying problematic and harmful practices within our profession. There is far more work for us to do individually and collectively, and we must tackle it with the urgency it deserves, particularly given our ability and privilege to powerfully impact and affect change with the communities we serve.
Finally, a previously unfathomable challenge that has become an annual reality in California comes in the form of wildfires and other environmental threats. The effects of these events has been nothing short of catastrophic in far too many instances, and though they often can harm libraries in both direct (buildings burned) and indirect (budget) ways, the opportunity exists for libraries to be meaningfully involved in the recovery process, whether it’s by serving in the capacity of hosting a local assistance center or offering staff to provide professional assistance and resources to other agencies that are working with affected individuals and communities.
10. Describe your experience serving on Association committees and/or interest groups. In 2015, I had the honor of participating in the final Eureka! cohort, and it was a life-changing experience for me. Not only did it help me grow and develop in a professional capacity, but it had a profound effect on me in a very personal way. I am a better human being for being a part of that experience, and it has served as a key source of inspiration for why I want to give back in some meaningful way. Since my Eureka! experience, I have started to be involved on a professional level, and I was delighted to have been made to feel welcome and appreciated. For California Library Association, I was a part of the Leadership Development committee, the Nominating committee, co-led a presentation for the Developing Leaders program, and am currently on the Conference Planning committee. I also was a member of California Center for the Book’s Advisory Board and helped with the Service With a Purpose planning committee.
11. Describe your network of connections with library professionals and library stakeholders in California. Each person we meet and each relationship we build expands our web of connections, often in ways we don’t immediately recognize or appreciate. I am fortunate enough to have made countless connections as a result of working in libraries for 26+ years, participating in professional development opportunities, and helping with committees and other activities on a statewide level. I am grateful for the rich network of connections with professionals and stakeholders I have made over the years, and I feel that no matter my question or need, I have someone I can reach out to who will be happy to provide assistance. I value the importance of library work at all levels, whether it be someone who shelves books a few afternoons a week or a Library Director, and I continue to build meaningful relationships with individuals in different positions and in different stages of their library careers. I am looking forward to not only making new connections as my involvement with California Library Association continues, but helping others expand their networks and establish relationships that benefit them as they continue on their own journeys.
|
Translate
Print Page