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Candidate_Hansen_2023

Genesis Hansen, Director, Mission Valley Library

Candidate for President-Elect

Candidate for President-Elect

Candidate for Secretary

Candidates for Director At-large (3 positions open)

Biography

I've been the Director of the Mission Viejo Library since 2014. I have a passion for public service, leadership development, and libraries as partners in our communities' success. I've worked with Mission Viejo staff to expand library services and capacity through grant funding, enabling expansion of early literacy programs and services, technology, local history, teen services, disability needs assessment and more. Together we continue to work on changing or eliminating outdated policies and procedures that create barriers to service, and are celebrating finally going fine free in 2022! I worked with community members

and City of Mission Viejo staff to launch a Diversity & Inclusion Task Force in Mission Viejo, a partnership between residents, local businesses and nonprofits, and City staff. I've been involved in CLA in various capacities for years, serving on the Conference Program Committee multiple times, Conference Sponsorship Chair in 2013, and most recently as 2023 Conference Co-Chair. I've served multiple terms on the CLA Board and helped develop and implement the grant-funded project Developing Leaders for California Libraries.

Candidate Statement:

In many of our communities throughout the state, we are facing tremendous challenges to the core values of our profession, and these challenges come at a time when our staff and organizations are still trying to recover from the effects (financial, social, emotional) of the pandemic. It's a critical time for advocacy, education, knowledge sharing, and support on behalf of our libraries and library staff, and it's coming at a time when many of us feel depleted and lacking the resources we need to meet these issues head on. I care deeply about our profession and the work we do in our communities, and I care deeply about CLA and its role in supporting and furthering that work. I believe CLA plays a vital role in advocating on behalf of libraries and library professionals as we strive to preserve our core values and ability to serve our communities in equitable and inclusive ways. I think it's crucial that CLA continues to adapt and improve as an organization to serve our library community and and I want to lead CLA in that effort to support and sustain our profession far into the future.