Darla Wegener, Tulare County Librarian

Candidate for Director at-Large

Candidate for President-Elect

• Genesis Hansen
  

Candidate for Secretary

• Hilary Theyer
  

Candidates for Director At-large (3 positions open)

• Brandy Buenafe
  
• Kelly Tyler
  
• Darla Wegener
  

Biography

Darla Wegener is the Tulare County Librarian, directing seventeen branches and a literacy center in the central valley of California. Prior to this, she was the Manager of the Main Library for Long Beach Public Library and Library Director for the City of Lincoln in California. In addition, she has worked as a Page, Clerk, Assistant, and Circulation Supervisor, working throughout rural, urban, and suburban California. Her education includes a BA in Child Development from Cal State Los Angeles, a MLIS from San

Jose State, and a Certified Public Library Administrator Certification from ALA/APA. She is currently a member of ALA, CLA, and PLA, and still working to grow the Rural and Tribal Libraries Interest Group.

Growing up in working class neighborhoods, her school and public libraries were rare refuges to a world beyond. She came to Libraries by serendipity, once there never wanted to leave. She is dedicated to community-based, barrier free, and customer-center public library service. Since 2015, the Library opened three branches, currently updating four locations, expanded library and literacy services, including adding a bookmobile, operated and went fine free under her leadership.

Candidate Statement:

I am passionate about Libraries and how we are essential to our communities and country. Today we encounter book, program, and other challenges to the first amendment rights libraries protect. In addition, libraries are protecting our most vulnerable patrons’ rights to information. Libraries and Librarians have a history of being there when needed and today we are needed more than ever.

CLA is growing the organization to ensure our members and libraries receive the recognition and support needed to accomplish the great work we do every day. CLA is working to represent the communities we serve by reflecting those communities in our staff, programs, and services. CLA is fighting with us every day to ensure the legislature is aware of what we do and how they can help us. As someone who has helped rebuild library systems all over the state, I would like to do my part to help in this effort as a member at large representing you on the CLA Board.