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OLA 2013 Elections Candidate Information


Welcome to the Oregon Library Association's election website.

Instructions:
1. Scroll down to read about the candidates for each office: Vice-President/President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and ALA Chapter Councilor.
2. Make your decision.
3. Use the link at the bottom of this candidate information page (also sent to you by e-mail) to vote.
4. Vote by midnight, June 3, 2013.
5. Thank all these excellent candidates for running for office!

 

Vice President/President Elect

 Steve Silver

Name/Current Position and Library:

  • Steve Silver, Library Director, Northwest Christian University

Education - Areas of study / Degrees earned:

  • Northwest Christian College, BS, 1987
  • University of Oregon, M. Mus., 1997
  • Emporia State University, MLS, 2006
     
OLA Involvement Committee assignments / Offices held:
  • Technical Services Roundtable, member 2005-present
  • Library Assessment Roundtable, member, 2013-
  • ACRL-OR/Academic Division board member, private colleges representative, 2009-2011

Other Professional Involvement of Note (list up to five committees/offices/and years):
  • Oregon Private Academic Library Link board of directors president: 2007-2008; 2011-2012
  • Orbis Cascade Alliance Research Interest Group: member 2009-present; liaison to ACRL-OR board 2013-
  • SWiVL (Southern Willamette Valley Librarians) founder and organizer 2012-present
  • ACRL New Directors mentorship program 2007-2008

Five Personal Characteristics that will contribute to your carrying out the OLA office responsibilities if elected:

  • Collaborative:  I strive to integrate the insight and expertise of others with my own in planning and decision making.
  • Inclusive:  I seek to ensure that all stakeholder voices are heard.
  • Mission focused:  I keep my eye on how the details help us achieve our overall goals.
  • Project manager: As director of a very small academic library I am used to shepherding multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Good communicator: I express myself well in writing and in public speaking


Statement of "Why I Want to Win This Race" (limit to approx. 100 words)
My ultimate concern is advancing the mission and work of the OLA.  People I trust and respect believe that serving as OLA president is how I can contribute to this goal, and I would welcome the opportunity to serve you in this way.  In these changing times, there is vital work that we need to be engaged in. Work such as supporting school librarians, improving literacy, defending freedom of access, advocating for all types of libraries, and much more.  I do not have all the answers, but each of us contributes a piece to what those answers will be.  Let me work with you as your president as we collectively piece our future together.



Vice President/President Elect

Candice Watkins

Name/Current Position and Library: 

  • Candice Watkins, Library Director, Clatsop Community College Library (Astoria, Oregon)

College and Post-grad Education (school, degree, year):

  • University of Texas, BA, 1997 
  • University of North Texas, MLS, 2004

 

 

OLA Involvement (Committee/Year)

 

  • OLA Advocacy Taskforce, 2012-13
  • OLA member, 2004-present

 Other Professional Involvement of Note (list up to five committees/offices and years)

  • ILAGO (Information Literacy Advisory Group of Oregon), Vice Chair, 2012-2013
  • ILAGO, member, 2006-present
  • ALA, member, 2004-present

Five Personal Characteristics that will contribute to your carrying out the OLA office responsibilities if elected:

  • Passionate:  I am passionate about what I do, libraries, and advocating for all types of libraries.
  • Community-oriented: I collaborate well with partners in my campus community and greater community.
  • Tenacious: I work tenaciously to accomplish goals.
  • A Lifelong Learner: No one is a finished product.  I'm always looking to expand my boundaries, both personally and professionally.
  • Outlier: I live in and understand the unique nature, wonderment, and challenges of small communities in Oregon.


Statement of "Why I Want to Win This Race" (limit to approx. 100 words)
Libraries are transformative places and librarians indispensable professionals to communities.  Librarians understand this value, and we work tirelessly through a variety of channels to communicate that worth and accomplish our respective missions.

Oregon Library Association harnesses many voices and hands to express the irreplaceable value of all types of libraries and librarians. It would be a privilege to represent OLA in this work and help all libraries in Oregon showcase our philosophy and achieve our goals.

 


Secretary

Rebecca Mayer

Name/Current Position and Library:

  • Rebecca Mayer, Youth Services Librarian, West Linn Public Library

College and Post-graduate Education (school, degree, year):

  • Western Oregon University, B.A. Social Sciences, 2005
  • Emporia State University, MLS Library Sciences, 2008

OLA Involvement (Committee/Year):
 This will be my first foray into OLA involvement.  I am looking forward to building more professional relationships and this group seems like a perfect place to start.

Other Professional Involvement of Note (list up to five committees/offices/and years):

  • 2010-11 Fellow of "Transforming Life after 50" through the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services

 


Five Personal Characteristics that will contribute to your carrying out the OLA office responsibilities if elected:

  • Very organized
  • Decisive
  • Assertive
  • Problem solver
  • Adaptive

 


Statement of "Why I Want to Win This Race" (limit to approx 100 words):
I am grateful for the opportunity to run for OLA Secretary this year.  The Oregon library community has been incredibly generous in helping me grow as a librarian over the last few years and I would love to use this chance to give back.  If elected, I would do my best to make certain that duties of the Secretary are attended to in an efficient and timely manner and the needs of OLA members are represented.  Thank you for your consideration and I wish everyone a great election!

 

 

 Secretary

April Witteveen

Name/Current Position and Library: 

  • April Witteveen, Community Librarian, Deschutes Public Library

College and Post-graduate Education (school, degree, year):

  • Western Michigan University, BA, 2001
  • University of Michigan School of Information, MSI (Master of Science in Information), 2005

OLA Involvement (Committee/Year):

  • 2006-2008:  OYAN Incoming Chair, Chair, Outgoing Chair
  • 2008-2011:  OLA Hotline Editor
  • 2011:  OLA Rebranding Project Committee, member


Other Professional Involvement of Note (list up to five committees/offices/and years):

  • YALSA Editorial Advisory Board, member 2011
  • YALSA Organization and Bylaws Committee, member, 2011-present
  • YALSA Nominating Committee, member, 2012-present
  • The Amelia Bloomer Project (book selection committee under the Feminist Task Force of the Social Rights and Responsibilities Round Table in ALA), member, 2011-present

Five Personal Characteristics that will contribute to your carrying out the OLA office responsibilities if elected?

  • Organized
  • Detail-oriented
  • Curious
  • Motivated
  • Sense of humor

 

Statement of "Why I Want to Win This Race" (limit to approx. 100 words):

I am running for OLA Secretary in order to continue my involvement with our excellent state organization.  In recent years I have branched out into national committee work and have come back, time and again, to the opportunities and experiences OLA has provided me.  Oregon is not just following library trends but also setting them, and in serving as Secretary I would get a front-row seat to all the action!  In particular I look forward to discussions that address our continued efforts to seek a variety of partnerships, as well as finding ideas and promoting actions that keep our libraries vibrant and valuable within our communities.

 

 

 Treasurer

 

 Valery King

 

Name/Current Position and Library: 

 

  • Valery King, Community Social Sciences/Humanities and Government Information Librarian, Oregon State University Libraries & Press

 

College and Post-graduate Education (school, degree, year):

 

  • University of Oregon, BA (General Humanities), 1977
  • University of Oregon, MLS, 1978

 

OLA Involvement (Committee/Year):

 

  • Documents Interest Group of Oregon (DIGOR) member since 1999
    -  Secretary 1999-2001: Vice-chair/Chair-elect, 2003-2004 and 2010-2011; Chair, 2004-2005 and 2011-2012
    -  DIGOR Continuing Education committee, 2007-2011
  • OLA/WLA 2008 Joint Conference Committee, Registration co-chair 2006-2008
  • OLA 2011 Conference Committee: Registration chair 2010-11 

Other Professional Involvement of Note (list up to five committees/offices/and years):

 

  • ORBIS Task Force on Virtual Reference, 2002
  • L-net Advisory Board, 2006-2008
  • Oregon Virtual Reference Summit planning committee, 2011
  • ALA Government Documents Round Table (GODORT) Education Committee member, 2005-2007
  • ACRL Anthropology and Social Science (ANSS) Bibliography Committee member, 2001-2005

 

Five Personal Characteristics that will contribute to your carrying out the OLA office responsibilities if elected?

 

  • Helpful
  • Responsible
  • Flexible
  • Easy to get along with
  • Actually kinda like spreadsheets!

 

 

Statement of "Why I Want to Win This Race" (limit to approx. 100 words):

Libraries are stronger when we work together, and OLA is our most useful tool for accomplishing common goals.  I have been honored to be involved in OLA, in DIGOR and as Registration chair for two conferences.  I was pleased to work closely with the Association Manager, Shirley Roberts, and learn more about how the money serves our goals, and how important it is for turning our visions into reality.  I see this role as a way of giving something back to an organization that has given me so much over my library career.

 

 

 Treasurer

 

 Liisa Sjoblom

 

Name/Current Position and Library: 

 

  • Liisa Sjoblom, Community Librarian, Deschutes Public Library

 

College and Post-graduate Education (school, degree, year):

 

  • Reed, BA, 1985
  • University of Texas at Austin, MLIS, 1992

 

OLA Involvement (Committee/Year):

 

  • OLA Treasurer, 2009-
  • Conference Committee, 2003-2008 and 2012, Chair 2008
  • Intellectual Freedom Committee, 1999-2001
  • OLA, member, 1999-
  • ALA, member, 1999-
  • Reference Roundtable, member, 1999- 

Other Professional Involvement of Note (list up to five committees/offices/and years):

 

  • City Club of Central Oregon Program Committee, 2009-, Chair, 2012-
  • Pacific NW FirstSearch Group Committee, 2006-
  • ALA, member, 1991-

 

Five Personal Characteristics that will contribute to your carrying out the OLA office responsibilities if elected?

 

  • Detail Oriented
  • Organized
  • Ethical,
  • People Person
  • Team Player

 

 

Statement of "Why I Want to Win This Race" (limit to approx. 100 words):

I have been an active member of OLA since returning to Oregon in 1999.  While I am currently serving as OLA Treasurer, I have previously served on both the Intellectual Freedom and Conference Planning Committees.  My time on the OLA Board has provided me with invaluable experience and connections with colleagues around the state.  I would be pleased to continue in this position as we move forward with OLA activities, including the development and implementation of OLA's first investment policy.

 

 ALA Chapter Representative

 

 Jennifer Snoek-Brown

 

Name/Current Position and Library: 

 

  • Jennifer Snoek-Brown, Faculty Librarian, Mt Hood Community College

 

College and Post-graduate Education (school, degree, year):

 

  • West Texas A&M University, BA (English), 2001
  • University of North Texas, MSLS, 2003

 

OLA Involvement (Committee/Year):

N/A, but I am excited and committed to being a more active contributor to both OLA and the Oregon library community in general! 

Other Professional Involvement of Note (list up to five committees/offices/and years):

 

  • American Library Association:
    -  International Relations Round Table, International Poster Session Committee member, 2009-present
    -  Intellectual Freedom Committee intern, 2008-2009
  • Wisconsin Library Association:
    -  WeLead Initiative ("Wisconsin Emerging Librarians Exploring and Developing"), 2005-2007
    -  Intellectual Freedom Round Table, Member-at-large, 2007-2008; Newsletter editor, 2006-2008
  • Southwest Wisconsin Association of Libraries:
    -  Academic/Special Library Representative, 2005-2007 

 

Five Personal Characteristics that will contribute to your carrying out the OLA office responsibilities if elected?

 

  • Organized: I created my own personal card catalog of books and magazines back in the 4th grade out of index cards.  Organization is a way of life!
  • Reliable:  "Reliable" is my third middle name!
  • Creative problem-solver:  One of the things that librarians do best is to analyze problems and figure out creative solutions (with a smile).
  • Dedicated to librarianship: I am a second generation librarian!
  • Enthusiastic: :)
     

 

 

Statement of "Why I Want to Win This Race" (limit to approx. 100 words):

I am excited for the opportunity to put my hat into the ring for ALA Chapter Representative, and I feel I could draw on my past and present experiences with ALA in helping represent the voice of OLA.  Our profession's focus on perpetual improvement and service connects us all, and that is a wonderful quality to share as a state library organization, as well as through the national lens of ALA.

 

 

 ALA Chapter Representative

 

 Suzanne Sager

 

Name/Current Position and Library: 

 

  • Suzanne L. Sager, Cataloging Technician, Portland State University Library

 

College and Post-graduate Education (school, degree, year):

 

  • Clackamas Community College, AS in Accounting, 1984
  • Portland State University, BA in History, 2001
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, MLIS, 2005

 

OLA Involvement (Committee/Year):

 

  • ALA Representative, 2007-2010
  • OLA Conference Communications Chair, 2008, 2011 & 2013 Conferences
  • Chair-elect/Chair/Past-Chair, Support Staff Division, 2005-2008
  • OLA Treasurer, 2001-2005
  • Member-at-large, Support Staff Division, 2003-2005
  • Recorder, Support Staff Division, 2001-2003
  • Conference Committee, Support Staff Division, 2000, 2001 & 2003

Other Professional Involvement of Note (list up to five committees/offices/and years):

 

  • ALA, Salaries and Status of Library Employees Committee, 2010-2011
  • Estacada Public Library Board, President, 1999-2006 & 2013-present
  • PSU, Library Emergency Preparedness Team, 2011-present

 

Five Personal Characteristics that will contribute to your carrying out the OLA office responsibilities if elected?

 

  • Committed
  • Cooperative
  • Diplomatic
  • Organized
  • Responsible

 

 

Statement of "Why I Want to Win This Race" (limit to approx. 100 words):

I want to be elected as the ALA Chapter Representative in order to represent OLA and the people the organization serves.  I work in an academic library, but I also serve as the president on my local library's board of directors.  I believe it is the responsibility of the ALA Chapter Representative to serve as the bridge between the libraries in Oregon and ALA Council, while keeping OLA members informed of what ALA is doing.  I have served as the ALA Chapter Representative before and know what is expected to successfully serve in this role again.

 

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