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David_McFadden

David McFadden, Southwestern School of Law

Candidate for Board Member at Large

 

 

Candidate for President-Elect

Candidate for Secretary

Candidates for Member at Large
McFadden

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

I have been a librarian for over forty years primarily as a law librarian in private firms, a public interest law firm, a county law library and for over thirty-seven years at a law school.  I have been a CLA member since the 1990’s.  Originally I joined in order to advocate for libraries.  I attended annual legislative days in Sacramento, as long as they were being held, and in the district.  I served on the then named CLA Legislative Committee for one term from 2004 to 2007.  I advocated for not only my own interests but also for public libraries and school libraries.

 I want to run because CLA should represent all types of libraries and I, as a non-public librarian, want to take on another level of leadership having already served as a member and chair of committees and interest groups. 

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

I have been and am currently the chair of the Bylaws & Governance Committee and the Interest Group Committee.  In those roles I’ve attended CLA Board meetings and given advice especially on matters related to the CLA Bylaws and Standing Rules.  I had previously served on the CLA Assembly from 2005-2008 which was a representative body formerly part of the CLA governing structures. 

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?

CLA should strive to reach out to librarians from all types of libraries as members and in its programming.  CLA needs to increase its membership, in part, to help raise more funds to support the organization but more importantly to be able to truly serve California’s libraries.  As a board member, I will hopefully shape policy in these directions and help to encourage the Membership Committee in these efforts.

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

CLA has done a good job of reaching out to members through its Interest Groups during the pandemic.  Interest Groups have put on virtual programming both through the Spring Fling Fall Edition and at the 2021 virtual conference.   As a board member, I will continue, as I have an Interest Group Committee Chair, to encourage Interest Groups to function as an important member benefit for CLA members to interact, learn and grow as librarians.