Migell Acosta, San Diego County Library
Candidate for Director At-Large
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Biography
My name is Migell Acosta, and I am the director of San Diego County Library. I bring to San Diego County a background in library innovation, leadership, and stewardship. I have been serving as Director of the Library since September 2016. Prior to coming to San Diego, I served as Assistant Director and Chief Information Officer for the County of Los Angeles Library. Prior to my tenure in Los Angeles, I worked for Santa Monica Library for ten years and the RAND Corporation before that. New initiatives at San Diego County include Library High School, KIndergarten Gear Up, expanding our digital Library,
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Instant Library Card, and the TechConnect project (sdcl.org for details). During my tenure the County has opened two new libraries: Imperial Beach and Borrego Springs. Our new Lakeside Library will open later this year.
I earned my Master of Library and Information Science from UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. I also hold a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA College of Letters and Science.
The San Diego County Library has thirty-three library branches and serves eleven incorporated cities and all the unincorporated communities in the County.
Candidate statement If elected, I would like to offer my skills and experience to help our library profession and library advocates throughout California as we all strive to strengthen our services, build our reputation as vital community anchor institutions, and respond to both the collective and unique challenges we face.
Questions :How do you define Leadership?
Leadership depends on a collection of skills and traits such as listening, empathy, curiosity, humility, innovative thinking, developing strategy, creating trust, etc. – all of which need continuous development. A worthy leader, I think, forms a deep understanding of the needs of their organization, staff, and customers and applies (or acquires in themselves or their team) these skills and traits to advance their organization’s mission, goals, and positive impacts.
Why are you interested in this position?
The San Diego County Library has a mix of large urban library branches serving populations of 40-60K, smaller quasi-rural libraries serving populations of 10-20K and small rural library branches serving communities of 500-1.5K residents. I believe serving this variety of communities give me insights and experiences I can leverage to help the great variety of libraries in California.
How would you describe your personal leadership communication style?
I try to communicate in such a way that I’m sharing not just the immediate message and information I’m trying to describe, but also the broader context, audience, and strategic goals around the message. I also try to listen more than speak and fully absorb what our staff, customers, and stakeholders are trying to communicate. I have a background in graphic design and rhetoric so in public-facing communication, I focus on crafting a message that resonates with our customers and avoids jargon and bureaucratic style.
What strengths would you bring to the position?
My three primary strengths are thinking creatively, natural enthusiasm for our shared mission, and implementing innovative technical/digital services. Also, because I have served in two of California’s largest counties, I have lots of experience collaborating with County and nongovernmental agencies to convene and provide multiple services to the communities we jointly serve.
What issues or trends are particularly informing your work at this time?
Our County Library is focused on several areas and responding to several trends, including: responding to climate change by converting to a zero carbon library; responding to the need for greater equity in library service by providing services beyond the branch which recognizes that some residents don’t have the time and transportation to visit a library branch; and helping staff mitigate workplace stress and support their professional development.
Who were the thought leaders (in libraries were in other fields) who interest you?
I’ve been extremely fortunate to have supported strong, thoughtful library directors in each of the libraries I’ve worked for. Each one had skills and competencies that I greatly admired, and they all were very patient with me asking questions of them and thereby increasing my own knowledge. Perhaps more importantly, when I made mistakes, they gave me room to learn, correct, and try again!
Who are the regional and statewide stakeholders libraries need to be in communication with?
Our stakeholders will of course vary by library type and the region or populations we serve. In general, our stakeholders include our customers and staff, most immediately. Also highly important are the senior leadership of our parent institutions, including elected or appointed officers. We should also communicate with the State’s legislature and the Governor’s office. I think the State Library has been very successful in this regard so it helps to share our stories with the State Library, so they have meaningful and positive anecdotes to share.
Describe your experience serving on association committees and/or interest groups.
I am a current member and future co-chair of CLA’s Legislative Analysis and Advocacy Committee. Our committee works with CLA’s lobbyists to provide input on the work of the state’s legislative bodies that will have direct and indirect impacts on California’s libraries.
Describe your network of connections with library professionals and library stakeholders in California.
I was the immediate past president of the California County Libraries Association, so I feel my awareness of library issues and concerns is much wider than the region I serve. For those not aware, the State Library has been convening California’s public library directors for a monthly forum since the beginning of the pandemic, so I think we all have heightened awareness of each other’s challenges – and solutions.
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