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OLA 2015 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, and Treasurer.
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, May 10, 2015.
5. Thank all these excellent candidates for running for office!

 

Vice President/President Elect

 Karen Clay

Name/Current Position and Library:

  • Karen Clay, Library Director, Eastern Oregon University Library

Education - Areas of study / Degrees earned:

  • Dalhousie University; Master of Library and Information Studies [MLIS]; 1993
  • University of British Columbia; Master of Applied Science, Bio-Resource Engineering; 1991
  • University of Waterloo; Bachelor of Applied Science, Systems Design Engineering; 1987
OLA Involvement Committee assignments / Offices held:
  • OLA member, 2007 - present

Other Professional Involvement of Note:
  • Orbis Cascade Alliance Assessment Team member and Council Liaison (July 2014 - )
  • Online Northwest Conference Planning Committee (for 2014 conference)
  • Sage Budget Committee member (2009 - 2014) and Chair (2013-14)
  • Sage Council member (2009 - 2014_ and Chair (2009 - 2011)
  • Orbis Cascade Board Member - Secretary (July 2011 - June 2012)

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

  • I like to try and make library work interesting, fun, and thought-provoking.
  • I like to solve problems and try and clear pathways for new ideas to flourish.
  • I can be dogged and I commit to seeing projects through to the finish.
  • I love to meet librarians from all types of libraries and find out what they are up to.
  • I am a careful and frugal money manager.

Statement of "Why I would like to work in this OLA position" 
The OLA mission is all about professional development for librarians, and serving as the chair will help me contribute to that.  I would like to broaden my perspective and work with people from libraries of all types - academic, public, urban, rural, large and small.  I really enjoyed working with librarians in the Sage consortium -- I appreciated their dedication and upbeat perseverance in the face of difficult tasks and uncertain funding.  This position will give me an opportunity to reconnect and engage with people doing interesting and innovative things in a variety of libraries, and being the OLA President will allow me to make pathways to communicate those ideas to other libraries across Oregon.  I would, truly, be honored to serve.



Vice President/President Elect

 Elsa Loftis

Name/Current Position and Library: 

  • Elsa Loftis, Director of Library Services, Oregon College of Art and Craft Library

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

  • University of Oregon, B.A., 1999
  • The Pratt Institute, M.L.I.S., 2009

  
OLA Involvement (Committee/Year) 

  • Liaison to the OLA Executive Board for Northwest Central 2013 - Present
  • Libtech Round Table Secretary 2013 - 2014

Other Professional Involvement of Note:

  • Answerland Advisory Group 2011 - present
  • Answerland Advisory Group Chair 2012
  • Volunteer Chat Librarian for Answerland 2010 - 2013

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

  • Service oriented
  • Passionate about librarianship
  • Enjoys collaboration
  • Approachable, good listener

Statement of "Why I would like to work in this OLA position"
Oregon is home to great libraries and amazing dedicated library workers.  OLA's role is to foster community, provide growth opportunities, and bring us together. Through OLA, I've encountered a vibrant group of dedicated professionals committed to core values of library service.  It's inspired me to continue to give more of my time and energy to OLA.  Library service continues to evolve and expand.  We have the opportunity to reimagine how we see ourselves, and the responsibility to communicate our importance.  Proving our value is not getting easier, as we all know.  Whether we are associated with public, academic, school, government, special or corporate libraries, there is an intersection: the need for advocacy and a voice.  We know this, which is why we're active with OLA.

 


Secretary

 Fawn McGee

Name/Current Position and Library:

  • Fawn McGee, Reference Librarian, Lake Oswego Public Library

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

  • University of Washington, MLIS, 2009
  • University of Oregon, BA, 2001

OLA Involvement (Committee/Year):

  • Presented at OLA conference 2014
  • OLA conference volunteer 2015

Other Professional Involvement of Note:

  • Marketing Chair, Oregon Digital Library Consortium, 2011 - 2012
  • Secretary, Oregon Digital Library Consortium, 2012 - 2015


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

  • Enthusiastic - I'm excited about the opportunity to serve OLA, and will bring a positive, can-do attitude to the team.
  • Organized - I'm adept at managing many tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
  • Attentive - I am detail-oriented, an engaged listener, and committed to the work ahead of me.
  • Collaborative - I am a team player and truly enjoy working with others.
  • Reliable - I take my work seriously and will be a dedicated member of this committee.

Statement of "Why I would like to work in this OLA position"
I care deeply about libraries and the vital services that they provide to their respective communities, and I would love the opportunity to support Oregon libraries by serving as Secretary to the OLA.  I have the skills that are necessary to carry out this important role, and I will do so with an upbeat approach.  OLA is an important organization and I would love to do my part to contribute.  It would be an honor for me to serve as OLA Secretary.  Thank you!

 

 Secretary

 Lynne Mildenstein

Name/Current Position and Library: 

  • Lynne Mildenstein, Asst. Director, Operational Services, Deschutes Public Library

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

  • University of Iowa, MLS, 1990
  • Wartburg College, BA 1982

OLA Involvement (Committee/Year):

  • OLA member 1999 to present
  • Technical Services Round Table chair, 2003 and 2014; member 2000 to present
  • OLA Conference Committee: Chair, 2007; Exhibits, 2012; Local Arrangements, 2005; Programs, 2004
  • OLA member, 2011-

Other Professional Involvement of Note:
  • Innovative Users Group conference planning committee, 2010

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

  • Commitment to service
  • Dedicated to success of libraries
  • Change agent and innovator
  • Invested in success and sustained relevance of OLA and libraries
  • Organizational skills

 

Statement of "Why I would like to work in this OLA position"

Oregon libraries have an enthusiasm for working together and learning from each other.  OLA is the embodiment of that enthusiasm.  I welcome the opportunity to promote the mission of the association and to foster collaborative relationships among all Oregon library communities.  It is with great appreciation that I offer my talents and skills as a librarian and manager to OLA.  It will be a privilege and honor to serve as secretary in 2015.

 

Treasurer

 Stephanie Lind

 

Name/Current Position and Library: 

  • Stephanie Lind, Outreach & Youth Services Program Supervisor, Washington County Cooperative Library Services

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

  • University of Arizona, MLIA,
  • Pacific University, BA German

OLA Involvement (Committee/Year):

  • Public Library Division Board director at large, 2013 - present
  • Public Library Division member - many years
  • Youth Services Division member - 10+ years
  • Mentor Program mentor, 2013-2014
  • Outreach Roundtable member - 5+ years
  • Evelyn Sibley Lampman award committee member and chair, 2007 - 2010
 
Other Professional Involvement of Note:
  • Oregon State Library Transformation, Services to Libraries and Oregonians Workgroup member - 2013
  • Early Learning Washington County Steering Committee board member, 2014 - present
  • Friends of the Cornelius Public Library board member, 2013 - present
  • Washington County People for Libraries Political Action Committee, 1980s - present
  • ABOS (Association for Bookmobiles and Outreach Services) member, ca 2009 - 2014

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

  • Responsible - I can be counted on
  • Committed - Professional involvement is important to me.
  • Organized - I pride myself on covering all the bases.
  • Collaborative - I love working with a group to accomplish goals.
  • Fun loving - We can all enjoy ourselves while doing this important work.

Statement of "Why I would like to work in this OLA position"

I am running for Treasurer of the Oregon Library Association because I believe that I have skills and experience that would benefit the organization and because I believe in giving back to professional organizations that benefit us all.  I would enjoy getting to know more about this organization by working with the Executive Board and the Association Manager.  It would be an honor to serve in this capacity.  Plus, it would be fun!

 

Treasurer

 Dan White

Name/Current Position and Library: 

  • Dan White, Director, Scappoose Public Library District

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

  • University of Washington, Masters of Librarianship, 1987
  • Reed College, B.A. History, 1984

OLA Involvement (Committee/Year):

  • OLA Member, 1988 - present
  • Children's Services Division member, 1992 - present; Chair 2001
  • Resource Sharing Committee Member, 2011 - present
  • Public Library Division Board Member, 2011 - present; Secretary 2013 - Present
  • OLA Quarterly, Guest Editor, volume 8, issue 3 and volume 12, issue 2
 
Other Professional Involvement of Note:
  • Southern Oregon Library Federation
  • Douglas County Commission on Children and Families, 2001 - 2008
  • Scappoose Community Club, 2011 - present
  • Columbia County Habitat for Humanity, 2014 - present

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

  • Personable
  • Collaborative
  • Thoughtful
  • Ethical
  • Experienced

Statement of "Why I would like to work in this OLA position"

I believe I have the experience and knowledge to serve as Treasurer.  As the director of my small library district I am directly responsible for all financial transactions and reports.  I have been an active member of OLA, serving on several committees and divisions, and know I can continue to make a significant contribution to an organization I have been a part of for my entire professional career.  Currently I am a member of the Public Library Division Board.  I believe my work experience, along with my years of service in OLA; have prepared me for this position.  Thank you.

 

 

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