We asked candidates for ALA Core Division Councilor to answer some questions before the spring election opens on March 10. Voting will close on April 2, with results announced on April 7.
The Division Councilor will serve a three-year term, 2025-2028.
Rachel is Scholarly Communications Librarian for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in Chattanooga, TN.
- What has Core brought to your career, and what would you bring to Core were you elected to this position?
After various service appointments in ALCTS and Section Leadership responsibilities at Core, I found the perfect spot for me as Core Division Councilor. Working on ALA Council requires an appreciation for parliamentary procedure and a willingness to get into the weeds on topics across the discipline. I enjoy representing Core and bringing ALA issues back to Core Leadership. - Member engagement is critical for the life and health of the Core Division. How do you plan to sustain and grow Core’s membership?
Members need to see a value from their membership, and I hope to add to that by increasing the visibility of important ALA-wide initiatives and programs. Council membership also provides many opportunities to increase awareness about Core and our mission, which I am always happy to share. - How will you pursue collaboration between sections of Core, and across ALA?
Division Councilors meet regularly to discuss issues affecting all Divisions, share information, and collaborate on approaches. - What does equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) mean in your professional life, and how should these be implemented within Core and in larger advocacy efforts?
Principles of access and equity drive me. ALA Council is a representative democratic governing body, and I am frequently impressed at how by including the broadest range of voices we reach the best answers. Understanding our communities and our colleagues as individuals, each with their own story, informs a compassionate connection where advocacy can effectively take root. ALA and Core support our individual advocacy efforts with resources to share and by combining individual stories into broad, powerful narratives. - What’s one thing you think Core is doing particularly well and that you would intend to support or enhance? What should the division change?
One of my favorite aspects of Core, a change from my experience in ALCTS, is the combination of all types of libraries and librarians. We have so much to learn from each other and it is always exciting to see Core members and learn about what we are up to. That we continue to be open to change to support our members as they and their libraries grow and change is a lesson learned from our founding and one that we can share with ALA. I would love to see more pathways into leadership at all levels from across the Division.
Rachel’s Personal Statement
It has been my pleasure to serve as Core Division Councilor for the 2022-2025 term and to stand for re-election. As a member of the Core Board of Directors, I have enjoyed learning more about the structure and work of Core sections and committees. As ALA Councilor, it has been rewarding to connect with other Division Councilors and learn more about the many intricacies of ALA’s functioning. During my term, ALA Council adopted a general revision of the ALA Bylaws and set the direction of ALA policy. If re-elected, it will remain my goal to share the important work of ALA Council with the Core Board and Membership, and to represent the best interests of Core to the best of my abilities.
Thank you, Rachel!
