NMRT Notes

ALA elections are here and this year NMRT is electing a Vice-President/President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Outreach Director, Member Services Director, and Networking Director. Below, our candidates answer a few questions about their plans for the position.

Name: Madison Sullivan

Question 1: Why are you interested in this position?

I’m passionate about supporting library and information science (LIS) students, early career librarians, and new professionals as we all find our way in this field. I think it’s important that we support new ALA members in navigating our complex organization, and that we use positions like these to amplify new voices. I see NMRT as a place where this happens, and can continue to happen. Simply, I want to serve our members and help them reach their professional development goals based on their interests and needs!

As the Membership Services Director for the New Members Round Table (NMRT), I’ll be a part of a team that provides tangible benefits and opportunities for those new to the organization who are interested in professional development. I believe that NMRT is one of the organizations within ALA that is striving to break down barriers to entry in our organization. I want to see more LIS students involved in ALA leadership. I want to see more people of color involved. I want to hear more from new and diverse voices about library leadership. This position is one way I can personally work toward these shared goals.

Because ALA is such a large organization, it can be intimidating. I want to help anyone who is interested in professional leadership find their way in ALA and within our field. At the same time, I’m still learning! As a new librarian, I’m excited that this position will allow me to become further involved in NMRT and ALA, and help others do the same.

Question 2: What skills and experiences do you bring to the position?

I love working with the people I’m serving to create impactful experiences and opportunities to connect, learn, and engage with our profession. I’m someone who strives to bring multiple voices and perspectives to the table in any endeavor. As an early career librarian, I can understand how intimidating and confusing ALA can be. I understand that participation in your professional organization can be met with barriers. I understand that the ability to participate in your professional organization is correlated to varying degrees of privilege. I hope to listen and to work with our members to figure out how we can make participation more accessible to all who want to contribute.

I have been a member of ALA, ACRL, and NMRT since 2013. I currently serve on several ALA committees, and I was named a 2016 ALA Emerging Leader. Currently, I’m a Co-Chair for the NMRT President’s Program for the 2018 ALA Annual Conference, and the Chair for the ACRL Residency Interest Group Programs and Proposals Committee. These experiences have helped me contribute to the organization in a variety of ways – from conference program planning, to communications and publicity, to building a resource for library publishing services.

While in library school, I was an officer for the University of Illinois ALA Student Chapter from 2013-2015. I was also a member of our SLA and SAA student chapters. In these three roles, I organized and led many professional development and networking events over two years.

Professionally, my work in librarianship has included outreach to undergraduate programs, and research support for our business school community. I work to facilitate learning and professional development opportunities with the populations I serve through building relationships with career services, student affairs, and other campus groups.

Question 3: As Member Services Director, you will oversee the activities of committees that serve NMRT members and support member efforts toward professional development. What do you believe are the top three professional development priorities for new librarians, and why?

• Diversity, cultural competency, and social justice professional development training. I’m not sure if other people view this as a the top priority for new librarians, but I think we all need it (myself included!). Frankly, this kind of training is something we all need to make an effort to do on a regular basis throughout our careers. It could help to positively change our hiring practices, the way we interact with other librarians and library staff, and how we meet our user’s needs. As a profession that is incredibly homogeneous, we need librarians who work with empathy and understand intersectionality.
• Leadership training. I think librarianship is lacking in leadership training, especially for new librarians. Many current leadership development programs focus on librarians who are already in positions of power. The training needs to happen before we get to that point! Many of us assume we will never need the training to begin with (I’m guilty of this!) – big mistake. I had no idea how often librarians would need to step up even if they aren’t the head of a department or a director. You may need to take the lead on a project, initiative, or an internal or external committee. Just because you don’t have a traditional leadership role within your library hierarchy, you will be called to lead something at some point – and it’s important to be prepared. I’ve found leadership training helpful in learning how to understand others, how to work in teams, how to deal with confrontation, and how to communicate effectively. I think current leadership training in libraries doesn’t focus enough on diversity and social justice, work/life balance, intersectionality, healthy work habits, implicit bias, emotional labor, understanding disabilities and mental illness, and developing empathetic leaders.
• Becoming more professionally involved beyond our own library or department. No matter the type of librarian, most new librarians want to connect and become more professionally involved at a state, regional, national, or international level. When we’re more professionally involved, we’re able to learn so much from others. This could be through conferences, publishing research, or other forms of knowledge sharing. I think most new librarians are overwhelmed when thinking about how to get involved with the profession and they might not be sure how to get started. I think there also needs to be more assistance for those who are interested in presenting at conferences or webinars (how to write proposals, presentation skills in person and virtually, etc.), and for those who wish to publish in some way or conduct library research.

How will you engage prospective and current NMRT members in the activities of the Roundtable?

I would work to develop the leadership skills of NMRT members by listening as a peer and colleague and building my work off that. I would want to include members in our decision-making and planning process in whatever we do. I would want our members to feel empowered to create or pitch their own ideas or events that could benefit fellow members. I would work to help create opportunities for members to share their own knowledge and skills. I would also be interested in engaging members virtually in more ways, especially for those who are unable to attend conferences.

I think we can also continue to partner with other ALA divisions and interest groups in developing worthwhile programs, events, webinars, and discussions around leadership and professional development. There’s opportunity to work with the Spectrum Scholarship Program, the Emerging Leaders Program, and ALA Student Chapters across the United States. I’m especially excited about how we can work more with student chapters. I would also want to brainstorm more opportunities for informal networking and peer-to-peer mentoring among new ALA members and leaders.

Question 4: What do you hope to learn if elected?

I want to learn more about the kinds of services and opportunities members want. How can we support our members – especially those that haven’t been well represented in this field? What do librarians need to lead happy, healthy, successful professional lives – how can the NMRT help? Do we have a role to play in providing holistic support to the “whole librarian?” How can we further involve LIS students in what we do?

Ultimately, I want to learn how I can be of better use to other librarians. Where’s the need? How can I help?

Question 5: If elected, what time management skills will you employ to ensure that your NMRT duties remain a priority?

It’s a privilege to work at an organization that supports (and actually requires) professional development and contributions to the broader profession. It is expected that some of our work time will be spent on service. As librarians, we wear many hats. We have had to learn how to balance and negotiate our time because our work demands it. I use multiple physical and digital calendars (and alerts!) to schedule every day hour-to-hour. Before bed, I go over my schedule for the following day. I didn’t always used to be such a planner, but I’ve found this to be an effective strategy for me in making sure I meet deadlines, get my work done, and come to meetings prepared. I make a point to set deadlines and timelines at the beginning of a project to keep myself accountable. Checking in with others on a regular basis is another way I keep myself honest and on task with my work. I understand that this position may require that I work some evenings and weekends to fulfill my responsibilities, and I am willing to do so.

Candidate: Sierra Laddusaw

Question 1: Why are you interested in this position?

I see this position as a way to be more involved, at the national level, in the library field. I have served on committees for ALA and other library organizations as a member or a chair, the Member Services Director position is an opportunity for me take on a larger leadership role. This position is a growth opportunity for me and aligns with my own professional development goals.

Question 2: What skills and experiences do you bring to the position?

Skills and experiences I bring to this position include organization skills, leadership experience, and the ability to ask questions.

Organization: I’m a planner, projects I work on have schedules and management plans. I document processes along the way and create reports once they are finished, this allows me to provide those above me accountability reports and leaves documentation for people who may work on the project in the future.

Leadership experience: For four years now I have chaired the Texas A&M University GIS Day planning committee, a group that plans a three day conference held annually in November that features hands-on workshops, panel sessions, student competitions, and a career fair. As chair I bring together students, faculty, and staff from across Texas A&M’s departments to plan the event. The committee organizes speakers, raises sponsorship funding, and recruits companies to attend. Through this experience I have learned valuable time management, leadership, and fundraising skills.

Questions: To me, inquisitiveness is a skill and not just a trait. It takes energy and courage to ask questions about why and how things are done, and like all skills it requires practice. I am willing to ask questions and I work to create a space others feel comfortable to ask questions.

Question 3: As Member Services Director, you will oversee the activities of committees that serve NMRT members and support member efforts toward professional development. What do you believe are the top three professional development priorities for new librarians, and why? How will you engage prospective and current NMRT members in the activities of the Roundtable?

I believe the top three professional development priorities for new librarians are networking through professional organizations, participating in a mentor program, and staying abreast of trends and emerging technologies through keeping up with publications and participating in training. Networking can be intimidating, however the importance of participating in a professional organization and meeting people from outside of your place of employment cannot be overstated. Organizations, like ALA, serve as a platform for interacting and forming relationships with other information professionals. These relationships can lead to collaborations, professional growth, and even job opportunities. I also believe it is important to speak with and hear from those outside of your own institution; you encounter new ideas, gather outside feedback on your ideas, and in general get a more diverse view on the profession.

I’ve had, and still have several mentors. I’ve had both formal and informal mentoring relationships, ranging from someone I could talk to over tea to individuals assigned to me by my library. Each of them has been invaluable. As an early career librarian, my current mentors are helping me navigate the field, serve as sounding boards for ideas I have, and are there to talk when I am feeling frustrated or lost. I will always encourage other new librarians to seek out mentors as I have found mentoring to have a positive effect on my career and personal growth.

There are, what feels like, hundreds of thousands of articles talking about the future of libraries. It is important that we keep up with these changes while also remembering our core values. We should not be afraid to learn and adopt new technologies and services, however we shouldn’t do it blindly – each advancement or change needs to be assessed and critiqued. We can do all of this through in-person and online training, participating in the conversations around emerging technology, and reading publications by others in our field (if there isn’t a publication you should write a blog post, a magazine article, or a peer-reviewed paper to help out your fellow librarians).

A large part of engaging members is communicating ways they can be involved and the opportunities we offer them for professional development. Through the Member Services Director position, there are multiple tools to engage our members – Endnotes, Footnotes, Resume Reviews, and Mentoring. Through both broad announcements (posting on our listserv or social media) and more targeted communication (encouraging members working on interesting projects or research to submit to Endnotes and Footnotes) we can increase participation.

Question 4: What do you hope to learn if elected?

There are a few things I hope to learn if I am elected. This is a great opportunity to learn more about ALA, to see how leadership is organized and how the round tables are supported by the larger association. This would also be a great opportunity to continue to grow my leadership skills, especially leadership in a digital environment where much of the communication would be electronically instead of face-to-face. Lastly, I hope I would learn more about NMRT members. I’ve interacted with and met several, but this position comes with the opportunity to reach out to and learn more about what NMRT members want to see within the professional development aspect of the organization.

Question 5: If elected, what time management skills will you employ to ensure that your NMRT duties remain a priority?

I am highly organized person, I like timelines, deadlines, and calendars. I would use many of the methods I use in my day-to-day work and personal life to ensure that the responsibilities of this position are a priority. As I receive tasks each would go on my task board, where I keep a running to-do list and next steps, and would put alerts on my calendar for preferred deadline (I like to do things early and typically give myself a preferred deadline of a week before an item is due), actual deadline, and lead up reminders. I would also book time on my calendar for accomplishing these tasks, ensuring that they are worked on routinely and not left until the last minute.

Candidate: Tammy Ivins

Question 1: Why are you interested in this position?

I have been a member of NMRT since graduate school in 2011, and it has been invaluable in helping me become acclimated to and successful in the profession. Through NMRT, I have published articles, coordinated ALA conference sessions, networked with professionals in the field. NMRT has given me a lot, and I want to do my part in helping new librarians flourish in our profession through a vibrant and active round table.

Question 2: What skills and experiences do you bring to the position?

I am familiar with NMRT and have a record of accomplishment serving it. Since 2011, I have served on or chaired six different ALA-NMRT committees (most several years in a row); currently, I am co-chairing the Endnotes committee for the second year in the row. As co-chair of Endnotes, I have helped secure the journal’s move to an open journal platform, designed a new professional article layout, standardized the peer-review process & training, increased marketing, and improved documentation and processes.

My success being part of and leading NMRT committees stems from my strong time and project management skills, which allow me to keep on top of deadlines and tasks.

Question 3: As Member Services Director, you will oversee the activities of committees that serve NMRT members and support member efforts toward professional development. What do you believe are the top three professional development priorities for new librarians, and why? How will you engage prospective and current NMRT members in the activities of the Roundtable?

In my experience, the top three professional development priorities for new librarians are:

1)    Job seeking skills, such as interview skills, resume crafting, and cover letter writing. It is heartbreaking to see new librarians leaving the profession for lack of employment, and so the job hunting skills of new librarians must be a major priority for NMRT.

2)    Networking, both with mentors and with peers. Great librarianship doesn’t happen in a vacuum; what makes librarianship great is out ability to learn from each other. It is therefore crucial that new librarians form strong, beneficial relationships with other librarians, in order to lay the groundwork for future success.

3)    Inspiration!, It is important to keep learning by hearing what other new librarians are doing and discovering resources & tools available to help facilitate our work as librarians.  The words “we have always done it this way” should cross no librarian’s lips, but particularly not the lips of a new librarian.

We can engage new librarians into NMRT activities by making sure our focus remains on providing relevant professional development opportunities and effectively marketing those opportunities inside and outside ALA.  Having a sincere dedication to supporting our fellow new librarians is the only way that we will fulfill our roundtable’s mission.

Question 4: What do you hope to learn if elected?

I hope to learn about how more of the NMRT committees work, as well as insight into how a roundtable operates inside of ALA. I also hope to learn even more about other members of NMRT and what the new wave of librarianship looks like!

Question 5: If elected, what time management skills will you employ to ensure that your NMRT duties remain a priority?

My favorite time management trick is creating a job “dashboard” for any project I run. The dashboards contain all the basic information I need, including names, contact information, and deadlines. It is a huge time-saver to have all that information readily available, without having to searching through numerous locations. I also utilize outlook tasks to make sure that nothing falls through the cracks. Lastly, I block time off on my calendar to complete responsibilities, rather than waiting until I have time in-between events. These tricks allow me to stay on top of my responsibilities in a time-efficient manner.

ALA elections are here and this year NMRT is electing a Vice-President/President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Outreach Director, Member Services Director, and Networking Director. Below, our candidates answer a few questions about their plans for the position.

Name: Christina Rodriguez

Question 1: Why are you interested in this position?

I would like to be Outreach Director for NMRT because I believe in the value that NMRT brings to early career librarians & LIS students in the library field. NMRT provides so many opportunities for members to get involved and grow in their careers. As Outreach Director I will be able to apply my experience and skills in order to help NMRT bring that value to the forefront. I want both current and prospective members of NMRT to feel heard, to know they have a network of their peers they can rely on, and most importantly to get value out of their membership.

Question 2: What skills and experiences do you bring to the position?

In my current role as Outreach Coordinator for Member Relations at OCLC, I spend my time working with a very diverse group of members from libraries all over the globe. I welcome new members to the cooperative, and communicate resources they have access to. I work with our global and regional councils who help govern the cooperative, and manage an online community where they can engage with one another to solve problems and share information. I work with emerging leaders from developing countries through the IFLA OCLC Fellowship program and my team works closely with LIS schools throughout the country to increase awareness of OCLC and larger library trends. I have experience planning large conferences and smaller member meetings throughout the country all designed to bring people together to share ideas and find solutions to the challenges libraries face. I am the current chair for the NMRT committee for Membership Promotion, Diversity and Recruitment and I recently founded an Early Career Professionals group at OCLC. I believe I have a unique skill set and a passion for this work that will allow me to be successful in this role.

Question 3:  As Outreach Director, you will oversee several NMRT committees that focus on students. What value do you feel LIS students bring to NMRT?

LIS students are so important to the library profession. Whether they are still in school or just graduating, they have a diverse set of talents and interests that they bring to the table. We were all students once and we know how much passion and energy we had for our careers and for the library profession. NMRT is the perfect group to welcome LIS students and early career librarians to ALA and the larger library community because they can provide opportunities to get involved, and the tools and resources LIS students and early career librarians can use to jumpstart their careers.

Question 4: What do you hope to learn if elected?

If elected, I hope to learn how NMRT is governed and how they work with other groups and ALA at large. I want to learn how we can position NMRT as a driving force for opportunity, change and innovation for its members and how we can leverage their talents to further their careers and improve the library profession.

Question 5: If elected, what time management skills will you employ to ensure that your NMRT duties remain a priority?

NMRT is very much aligned with my passion for helping people and providing opportunities for early career librarians and LIS students to get involved and grow in their careers. It is because of that passion that the work I would do for this position would be a top priority. I am highly organized and action oriented. I like to work hard and get the job done. I also know that no one can accomplish anything alone. By working together and sharing responsibilities we can accomplish our goals and make a real impact for NMRT

ALA elections are here and this year NMRT is electing a Vice-President/President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Outreach Director, Member Services Director, and Networking Director. Below, our candidates answer a few questions about their plans for the position.

Candidate: Jennifer Wilhelm

Question 1: Why are you interested in this position?

Howdy! I am very excited to run for NMRT Secretary! My interest in this position stems from my participation on NMRT committees, where I have had the chance to interact with Board members and learn a bit about what they do to keep NMRT running smoothly. As I began building working relationships with fellow committee Chairs and Board members, I became even more interested in how NMRT works. I am a librarian who sincerely enjoys committee work, and running for the Board allows me to continue to help improve and expand NMRT. I enjoy being a leader, and I like the idea of helping new librarians find their place in ALA. My membership on NMRT is important to me, and I welcome the challenge of being your Secretary!

Question 2: What skills and experiences do you bring to the position?

I have been involved with the Communications Committee for two years; first as a member and currently as Chair. This committee works closely with the NMRT Secretary to produce content for Notes, the NMRT Blog. Thanks to this committee, I have become familiar with the Secretary’s duties, and have enjoyed creating relationships with members of the NMRT Board. I believe my experience in NMRT as well as my work experience have prepared me to provide excellent administrative support and social media sparkle.

As an Adult Reference Librarian at a public library, I am in charge of creating content for our branch’s Facebook page and regularly contribute to the library system’s WordPress website. Under my direction, a more cohesive and visually appealing marketing strategy has resulted in our Facebook following increasing by over 20% in the last six months. Through the management of our page, I have learned about analytics, when and how to post successfully to reach a large audience, and many other tricks that help make our social media effective. And finally, my previous position as an administrative assistant means I am familiar with taking minutes, keeping people on track, and all things organizational!

Question 3:  As Secretary, your responsibilities include coordinating NMRT social networking presence on the appropriate tools. What do you feel is the best method to get information to the NMRT membership, and why? What is your plan for coordinating NMRT’s social networking presence?

Despite many of us being unable to remember a time before social media, businesses and organizations are still learning how to best use the multiple platforms to their benefit. At my branch, we have found that promoting the same message and branding across multiple platforms can have excellent results. When a message is consistent, it makes an impact and reduces the chance of misinformation or confusion. I believe the current Secretary has done well coordinating the social media presence, and before I made any drastic changes, I would want to evaluate what is currently in place, including any management tools (HootSuite, etc.). Most social media sites provide feedback and statistics which can be useful in determining the platform that is reaching the most people. I would use that feedback in combination with consultations with the NMRT Board and other members to make my decisions on how to best manage our message. For example, I know the listserv continues to be a popular choice for disseminating information, but it is just one valuable part of a united social media strategy.

Question 4: What do you hope to learn if elected?

There are a few avenues I would like to explore, if elected. Foremost is the experience of being on the NMRT Board – how the Board functions, votes, conducts meetings, etc. I have experience on committees, but I am excited to learn more about the behind the scenes work at ALA and NMRT. In addition, I look forward to the opportunity to observe and learn by making connections with Board members and others in the profession. It is my hope that building these relationships will not only provide a sounding Board for Secretary-related ideas, but also give me a space where I can engage with and learn from a variety of people on topics that I may not know anything about.

Question 5: If elected, what time management skills will you employ to ensure that your NMRT duties remain a priority?

I currently have a few tools at my disposal that keep my professional life on track. Google Keep + Calendar are my main life organizers! I always have a running to-do list specifically for committee-based work, with reminders and notifications for things that need doing. That being said, digital organizing tools are just technology, and they are worthless without the right amount of concentration and motivation, which are my two main time management strengths. I am an energetic person who enjoys having a full and challenging schedule! If chosen to be Secretary, I am confident I could ensure my duties remain a priority.

Candidate: Pauline Stacchini

 Question 1: Why are you interested in this position?

The position of Secretary is particularly compelling to me as I have never before served as an officer for ALA’s NMRT, and this role would afford me the opportunity to “get my feet wet.” As Secretary, I would be able to observe and record board meetings, as well as vote – a great first foray into Officer-dom. As a one-year appointment, I would be able to select the officer role I am most interested, making an educated decision in terms of the roles and responsibilities of each position.

Question 2: What skills and experiences do you bring to the position?

My tendency to send follow-up “this is what we discussed during our meeting” emails, and thorough note-taking are both assets to the Secretary role. Furthermore, my experience with designing invitations for past NMRT Orientations/Socials for distribution online would bring an added skill for the social media presence of NMRT. I am looking to serve the round table by bringing my strategic thinking and organizational skills to the position.

Question 3: As Secretary your responsibilities include coordinating NMRT social networking presence on the appropriate tools. What do you feel is the best method to get information to the NMRT membership, and why? What is your plan for coordinating NMRT’s social networking presence?

As with all things, it is best to approach with a plan, namely a calendar of posts and topics (as much as can be done in advance). As an NMRT member myself, I get the most out of the email distribution list and from Twitter, but I know that many professionals get more out of Facebook pages, as far as news/events go. Optimally, we would create a shared calendar for all those responsible for posting on social media, including the channel, post topic, and date, in order to prevent duplicate efforts and instead communicate strategically to our constituents. Above all, clear and concise information is key to communicate effectively.

Question 4: What do you hope to learn if elected?

Other than the particular requirements of the role that are not listed – there are always “duties as assigned” – and the responsibilities of the other Officer roles, I am looking to improve my current skillset by using it in this new environment. I believe I will strengthen my teamwork, time management, communication, and overall organizational skills.

Question 5: If elected, what time management skills will you employ to ensure that your NMRT duties remain a priority?

Outlook calendar is a wonderful, wonderful tool; my latest pro-tip I am implementing currently is to add in events to serve as a reminder for follow-ups – whether it’s for emails, tasks to be completed by other team members, or my own set deadlines, this is a great way to remind myself of what yet needs to be done. As mentioned above, the social media post calendar is a great way to coordinate the efforts of a team, as well as set reminders for oneself.

ALA elections are here and this year NMRT is electing a Vice-President/President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Outreach Director, Member Services Director, and Networking Director. Below, our candidates answer a few questions about their plans for the position.

Candidate: Dylan Burns

 Question 1: Why are you interested in this position?

I believe that we are in a critical time in library history. The once promised mass-retirements and the uncertain feelings associated with the future of libraries fosters vulnerability amongst our newest colleagues. The rise of contingency jobs and the decline in library budgets have put many students and new professionals in precarious situations. As a result, I believe that organizations like ALA, and especially New Member Roundtable, have a responsibility to provide guidance and support to library students and new professionals. As a new professional, I believe it is my duty to give back and lend a helping hand to those finding the path to be treacherous. I believe that a strong organization is essential to overcoming these difficulties.

Question 2: What skills and experiences do you bring to the position?

While I was a student I wrote for and was the community editor for Hack Library School, a blog dedicated to students in LIS programs. I feel like this gives me insight into what students and new professionals think about our profession, what anxieties plague them, and how we are all involved in the future of the field. I have developed a deep network of librarians through blogging at ACRLog, speaking at national conferences, and organizing a handful of #critlib chats on twitter. Furthermore, through Hack Library School and other nation-wide projects, I have experience running an organization with a geographically dispersed leadership through email lists, Skype, and slack channels.

As the Digital Scholarship Librarian at Utah State University, I am responsible for administering the University’s Institutional Repository. I am relied on to be cognizant of new trends in librarianship and the ever changing world of scholarship. Through this I have developed techniques to foster communication and understanding with colleagues within my library, around campus, and around the world. I am adept at tracking and organizing digital files, keeping tabs on ongoing projects, and thinking about the big picture; all of which are necessary to both my day job and being Treasurer for NMRT.

Question 3: As Treasurer, you will communicate with all committee chairs and board members. How do you propose to track these communications?

Depending on your point of view I’m either terrible or fantastic at email because I cannot let communications slip, and I cannot let emails go unanswered. This means I’m often answering student emails deep into the night. I pride myself on availability, while maintaining a healthy work-life-balance as is possible in our present circumstances. Furthermore, I organize and catalog my correspondence in my outbox to best preserve my communications with colleagues and students for easy recall. My position at my library is one that is built on trust, and this trust comes from the ability to balance my commitments, my availability, and my time as best as possible.

Treasurer plays an important role on the board as a force for accountability. As such it will be essential to track all communication, the payment of bills, and the monitoring of funds. This will require the transparent use of online and offline systems like Box and Drive to preserve a record for the board and members to be in constant knowledge of the financial situation.

Question 4: What do you hope to learn if elected?

All new members of ALA are interested in learning more about the inner workings of the organization and I believe that one of the things I will learn is how to be a leader on the national stage. This is something essential for people who are interested in making an impact beyond their individual library to learn, and I will relish this opportunity. I also want to learn more about the needs of NMRT members, the changing face of librarianship, the future of librarianship, and how we as new professionals can connect, share stories, and mentor each other.

In this time of uncertain state and library budgets the fiscal responsibility and budgeting for an organization of this size will be essential to my future as a librarian. I can think of no other office where this kind of expertise can be gained so quickly, and I will bring usable skills back to my own library for the benefit of the students and faculty of Utah State University.

Question 5: If elected, what time management skills will you employ to ensure that your NMRT duties remain a priority?

As an academic librarian my time must be successfully managed in order to balance my job responsibilities, service, and research. As a result, I am adept at setting aside times for priority projects which balances my work responsibilities with my service. To accomplish this, I dedicate time each week to long and short term projects in order to make sure that I am giving adequate time to each of them. I thrive when I’m busy. I use many online applications to achieve this including tracking important projects through Trello and Workflowy, keeping files organized and preserved via cloud services, and sharing calendars with colleagues across many scheduling platforms. Also important is an institutional commitment to service which I believe will allow me the work flexibility to devote the time I need to NMRT.

ALA elections are here and this year NMRT is electing a Vice-President/President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Outreach Director, Member Services Director, and Networking Director. Below, our candidates answer a few questions about their plans for the position.

Candidate: Dani Cook

Question 1: Why are you interested in this position?

I am interested in running for Networking Director of NMRT as the position focuses on building community for new librarians and library professionals. Over the past seven years that I have been involved in ALA (and NMRT specifically), the most valuable aspect of my involvement has been building relationships with other new librarians and connecting with more experienced library colleagues. I am excited to help facilitate those opportunities for connection and community for other new professionals, and to investigate what a more expansive view of “networking” outside of in-person conferences might look like.

Question 2: What skills and experiences do you bring to the position?

I bring significant management and leadership experience, including with geographically distributed teams, to the role of Networking Director. I have twice chaired the NMRT President’s Program Committee, am serving as the LITA Communications and Marketing Committee chair this year, and have participated in both national and local committees in a variety of roles, including as a student at UNC Chapel Hill. I have also volunteered on some of the committees that this position supervises, including the Annual Conference Local Information Committee.

I’m a solid communicator and have significant event-planning and project-management experience. I planned the largest book sale that my library school had ever put on, organized a variety of events at local public libraries, and coordinated the planning of the NMRT pre-conference in 2014.

Question 3:  As Networking Director,, you will oversee NMRT committees associated with conference attendance. In what ways would you like to see NMRT reach out to those members not able to attend MW or Annual conferences?

I’d like to see NMRT committees work on creating toolkits that local or student chapters could use to hold networking events. For example, the Association Options Committee puts together materials every year to introduce new members to the variety of opportunities in ALA, and I’d love to see that shared more broadly with new members. Similarly, the Orientations Committee could help to put together a toolkit for local groups to build on to hold introductions to ALA. I could also see these committees working with the Outreach Director to connect members who are not able to attend conferences with local speakers or ALA NMRT members to run their own, more local networking events. I’d also be interested in exploring what an online speed networking event might look like. It seems crucial to me that the networking opportunities of NMRT be made available to our members who may not be able to attend conferences–geographical or funding limitations should not prevent us from helping to create more local or online communities.

Question 4: What do you hope to learn if elected?

If elected, I hope to learn more about the kinds of community that NMRT members want and need. How can we create inclusive and welcoming spaces, both at conferences and more broadly? What are some of the barriers to participation in NMRT and ALA more broadly? The Networking Chair will need to think broadly about how new librarians and library professionals can engage with each other, even if they can’t all be in the same physical location.

Question 5: If elected, what time management skills will you employ to ensure that your NMRT duties remain a priority?

I have always been good about setting and completing priorities, but I’ve recently adding bullet journaling to my repertoire of time management strategies. I would incorporate my NMRT duties into my current day-to-day, and plan out as much of the year as possible when elected. Outlook Calendar reminders to send e-mails and prepare for events can be set far in advance, and I’d anticipate setting those plans as soon as reasonable.