Crystal Duran, County of Imperial

Candidate for Board Member at Large

Candidate for President-Elect

• Gary Shaffer
  

Candidate for Secretary

• Shawn M. Thrasher

Candidates for Member at Large

• Anthony Chow
• Crystal Duran
• Heather Daniels Firchow
• Genesis Hansen
• David McFadden
• Rosemart Medina
• Ziba Perez

Tell us about your background and what made you want to run for the Board of the California Library Association?

Like many in our library field, I have worked in various positions from page to storytime presenter and now director. While I have spent some time working and interning in urban and university libraries in Los Angeles, my heart and passion lie with small libraries. I am probably a bit biased, having grown up in a small community. Still, I value small libraries because they create opportunities for community members to bond and connect in different ways and are often the center of any small community with limited resources. My drive to participate in the CLA Board

is to be a voice for rural and small libraries. Often our small and rural libraries are overlooked when our needs are just as unique, if not more challenging. I want to represent our tiny but mighty libraries that do the most with the fewest resources. It is important to acknowledge our small library successes and opportunities for growth and have representation to speak to them.

What experience do you have that will serve you while completing your three-year term?

I most recently had the pleasure of working with library colleagues for two terms as the Vice-Chair and Chair of the Serra Cooperative Library System and continue in its Executive Committee. I have served in the  Brawley Public Library Administrative Board since 2018 and was recently appointed to our local Early Care and Education Planning Council. I have enjoyed becoming the voice for our small and rural libraries while with Serra and ensuring our unique needs are considered. Since joining the Brawley Public Library Administrative Board, I have advocated for updated policies and increased children's programming. My recent appointment to the Early Care and Education Planning Council represents the culmination of my work in early care and education and my passion for advancing early literacy and healthy child outcomes. My experience on these different boards and working with diverse board members will serve me well in the CLA Board.  

What is the most important thing the Board of the California Library Association should do in the next three years, and how will you contribute?

The pandemic accentuated issues that libraries already faced, including misinformation and a lack of digital access and inclusion. While we have had an influx of funding for broadband and expanded access, we need to continue to advocate for policies that align with library needs and are feasible and realistic, given our unique complexities. We need to continue educating policymakers and advocating for bridges between the public sphere and private broadband providers so that digital access is truly available to all. I will continue to be a voice for rural and small libraries that face some of the most significant gaps in access to broadband and digital resources. 

What has the California Library Association accomplished during the pandemic that should continue, and how will you help make that happen?

I participated first-hand in planning CLA's inaugural virtual conference, and I believe some elements of the annual conference should continue virtually. While many of us are fatigued with virtual meetings, I think the option to participate remotely does increase access for many. We learned this as our libraries shifted from day-to-day, in-person operations to virtual offerings. As a working mother, I can appreciate the opportunity to attend a conference without leaving my family behind or making childcare arrangements. As a rural library director, I understand the financial constraints that many small libraries face and that travel and professional development budgets are limited and sometimes non-existent. Finally, as a virtual presenter at the past conference, I was able to team up with other presenters who I probably would have never collaborated with so closely, and I appreciate that opportunity to learn and grow. I will advocate for continued virtual professional development opportunities and, specifically, virtual annual conference sessions for those who cannot typically attend in person.