January 15, 2019 (Vol. 26, No. 2) ASSOCIATION NEWS

OLA Call for Candidates

Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to get more involved in your profession? Do you want to make a big difference for Oregon libraries? Or perhaps you know someone else who’s been pondering these questions? Either way, I want to hear from you!

Oregon Library Association is looking for a few good folks such as yourselves to run for the Executive Board. The Board governs OLA and helps make sure that great things happen. There are six Board meetings a year, plus an annual summer planning retreat. Most meetings can be attended remotely, so whether you’re from a small rural community or the Portland metro area, there are opportunities for you!

OLA Board positions are only open to OLA members, but they’re not just for library directors or degreed librarians! We welcome candidates who hold any position in their library, or no position at all. Friends, Foundation members, and Trustees are also invited. You can make an impact no matter how you support libraries.

Here are the positions open this year and their terms. Elections will be held following the annual conference in April. Job descriptions are attached. All positions are voting members of the Executive Board.

Vice-President/President-Elect (3 years)

• Provides leadership for OLA.
• Chairs the Executive Board.
• Serves as VP/President-Elect for first year, President for second, and Past President for third.
• We’re particularly seeking support staff from any type of library to run this year.

Secretary (1 year)

• Keeps records of Executive Board meetings and retreats.
• Keeps records of OLA membership meetings.

Treasurer (2 years)

• Oversees finances of OLA, with assistance from the OLA Association Manager.
• Presents regular financial reports to the Executive Board.
• Chairs the Finance/Investment Committee.

American Library Association Councilor (3 years)

• Represents OLA at ALA Council meetings during the annual and midwinter conferences (expenses paid).
• Keeps OLA membership and Board abreast of ALA activities.
• Coordinates remote conferencing technology for OLA Board meetings.

Do these opportunities pique your interest, or do you know someone else who’d be a great candidate? Please don’t hesitate to contact me at 971-270-0527 or olapastpresident@olaweb.org. Please express your interest by the end of February to ensure consideration by the Nominating Committee. Thanks!

Cheers!

Buzzy Nielsen
OLA Immediate Past President, 2018-19

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January 15, 2019 (Vol. 26, No. 2) OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENRICHMENT

Emporia State University SLIM Alumni Gathering

Emporia State University’s School of Library and Information Management will host a gathering for alumni and students on Sunday, January 27th from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Seattle downtown Blue C Sushi Restaurant (1501 Seventh Ave.), across from the Seattle Convention Center. Join us and enjoy a full range of menu options in addition to fish and sushi. Please RSVP to Perri Parise.

Perri Parise
Director, Oregon Distance Program
Emporia State University, School of Library & Information Management

January 15, 2019 (Vol. 26, No. 2) OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENRICHMENT

Oregon Reference Summit Call for Proposals

Reference Summit is looking for Lightning Talk (10 minutes) and Full Session (45 minutes) proposals for the 2019 Summit on May 31, 2019 in Corvallis. Nontraditional librarians, library workers, and first time presenters are encouraged to submit!

Submissions are due by February 15, 2019.

Tamara Ottum

January 15, 2019 (Vol. 26, No. 2) PEOPLE

New Member Profile: Jennifer Studebaker

I’m Jennifer Studebaker, Youth Services Manager for Multnomah County Library. I have an MLIS from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and previously worked in a wide variety of roles over the course of 14 years at Fort Vancouver Regional Library. I live in Portland with my partner and our young child. Though I read a lot of books about dinosaurs and dragons to my kiddo, I do get a little reading time for myself, too. I’m currently reading the Akata series by Nnedi Okorafor, George by Alex Gino, and Escape from Aleppo by N.H. Senzai. My favorite hobby is dressmaking, and I spend most of my free time either sewing something or taking classes at local shop D&T’s.

January 15, 2019 (Vol. 26, No. 2) CONFERENCE

Registration for the 2019 OLA-WLA Conference is officially open!

The 2019 OLA-WLA Conference will be held April 17-20 in Vancouver, WA. This joint conference will bring together the Oregon Library Association (OLA) and Washington Library Association (WLA) for four days packed full of professional development opportunities and exciting networking events. Register here!

The conference theme is “Charting the Unknown Together,” which reflects the current climate of change, injustice, and uncertainty that affects library professionals, patrons, and students. It also honors the spirit of exploration in the Pacific Northwest and the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Together, we’re hopeful that our collaboration and camaraderie can help us navigate new waters.

Here are some of the exciting things the Conference Committee has planned:

• Choose from 10 preconference workshops and 80+ sessions
• Play Drag Queen Bingo, hosted by Poison Waters
• Enjoy the dinner banquet with Lilac City Live! and special guests
• Take advantage of more meals included with your conference registration
• Network, explore Vancouver, and win prizes at the Bar Crawl
• Get moving with the OLA-WLA Scholarship Fund Run 5K
• Meet with vendors and grab some swag in our packed Exhibit Hall
• And so much more!

Early bird discount ends March 6. We look forward to seeing you in Vancouver!
Not a member of OLA and want to take advantage of member rates? You can, by joining today! Any questions about OLA Membership, contact Shirley Roberts, ola@olaweb.org .  Membership is activated upon payment of dues.

January 1, 2019 (Vol. 26, No. 1) HAPPENINGS

OLA Awards Nominations Open

Yes, it’s time to nominate your colleagues for OLA Awards!

Who has done an outstanding job or taken on a project or been responsible for a success in our libraries this year? Tell us about those talented, dedicated individuals whose commitment to excellent library service has made a difference. The OLA Awards Committee wants to know who those individuals (or groups) are and we want you to tell us!

Nominations may come from all types of libraries and from all kinds of librarians, staff, and supporters.

Nominations are open for the following awards:

• Oregon Librarian of the Year
• Library Employee of the Year
• OLA Distinguished Service Award
• Library Supporter of the Year

Nomination letters (with no more than six letters of support) are due Friday, March 15, 2019.

Awards will be presented at the 2019 OLA/WLA Conference Luncheon Banquet in Vancouver on Friday, April 19, 2019 (tentative date and time, joint conference committee will confirm).

There are four awards:

1.       Oregon Librarian of the Year may be awarded to any Oregon librarian who has been working in an Oregon library for at least two years in a paid professional position. The nominee must demonstrate excellence in library service in his or her community and to Oregon libraries. The nominee must be a member of OLA.
2.       Oregon Library Employee of the Year may be awarded to any Oregon library staff member who has worked in an Oregon library for at least two years as a paid staff member and demonstrated excellence in library service in his or her community.
3.       Oregon Library Association Distinguished Service Award may be awarded to any Oregon librarian or library staff member, who has been in the profession for 15 or more years, has worked in Oregon libraries for at least ten years, and is currently a member of OLA, for exceptional service over a period of years.
4.       Oregon Library Supporter of the Year may be awarded to any volunteer, volunteer group, library Friend, board member, government official, or other individual who is not a paid library staff member and who has demonstrated excellence in supporting and promoting Oregon libraries.

List of Past Recipients

Your letter (e-mail) of nomination should include the following information, if pertinent, and be as informational as possible:

     * Name, contact information, current position for nominee
     * Award for which you are nominating the person or group  
     * Description of why your nominee should be selected for an OLA Award  
     * OLA activities: committee appointments, etc.
     * Past positions held and summary of major accomplishments  (for Distinguished Service Award)
     * Your name and how you can be reached if the committee has questions

Please send nominating and supporting letters by Friday, March 15, 2019, to:

e-mail: olaawards@olaweb.org

Email is preferred, but you can also send nominations to:

Leah Griffith, OLA Awards Chair
Newberg Public Library
503 E. Hancock
Newberg, OR 97132

E-mail or call Leah at 503-537-1256 if you have questions. We look forward to your nominations!

Leah M. Griffith, Chair OLA Awards Committee
Director, Newberg Public Library

January 1, 2019 (Vol. 26, No. 1) HAPPENINGS

2019 Leadership Institute of Oregon Library Association (LIOLA)

Apply Now!

Would you like to learn strategies to empower staff and develop accountability in yourself and others? Have you wished that you had a support system of other leaders in Oregon libraries who could help when new challenges arise? These benefits and more will result from participation in the Leadership Institute of OLA.  

We are currently taking applications for the second LIOLA to be held at The Village Green, in Cottage Grove, Oregon from June 18-21, 2019. LIOLA was developed by the OLA LIOLA Committee in partnership with Dietra Stivahtis of Vibrant Business Solutions.

If you are an emerging leader (or aspire to be!) serving in any capacity in a library, please apply!  Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, January 15, 2019.

For more information please visit the LIOLA page or contact LIOLA Chair, Lori Wamsley, at: LIOLA@ola.org  

January 1, 2019 (Vol. 26, No. 1) OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENRICHMENT

Save the Date! Oregon Reference Summit 2019

Oregon Reference Summit – May 31, 2019
#OrRS2019
More information available on the website.

January 1, 2019 (Vol. 26, No. 1) PEOPLE

New Member Profile: Laurel Crump

I was hired in April 2018 as a part-time Reference and Instruction Librarian at Lane Community College in Eugene. When I retired as Director of the Whittier College Library in California in 2017, I didn’t think I’d be working in an academic library a year later, but happily, I am! Graduating with an AA degree from LCC in 1972 and being a federal work study student in the library qualifies as coming “full circle”! Working at Lane and helping students as they proceed on their academic journeys is very satisfying and the part time status allows me to explore retirement activities, too.

Librarianship was a second career after ten years in the medical field and a break to start my family. I received my MLS from the University of Arizona and then was a corporate special librarian for a multinational biotech company in Los Angeles for a number of years. Changing gears, I progressed through public services and administrative positions in a for-profit university, an honors college, a state university, a small liberal arts college, and now a community college. I have enjoyed and learned from each position and marvel at the talented, wonderful librarians and staff members I have had the privilege of working with along the way.

My husband of 30 years has always been very supportive of my career, despite a number of coast-to-coast moves for new opportunities I wanted to pursue. We have three grown children and two grandchildren and, unfortunately, none live in the Pacific Northwest. Nine rescue dogs have shared our homes over the years, and we currently have three small elderly rag-tag poodle mixes who think they own the house, and sometimes I think they do!

Besides working at Lane, I’m exploring pottery and have dabbled with watercolor media for years. Flower gardening brings me a sense of peace and joy, especially here in the Northwest. I’m trying out pilates and love going to the gym. Did I mention reading??

I tell people that librarianship for me was the perfect profession, and it’s true! I am a firm believer in giving back, and as such, was very active in the Special Libraries Association (SLA) for many years, and also took an active part in the local chapter of ACRL wherever I’ve been living. I hope to meet some of you in the coming months at a meeting or professional event, or if you get to LCC, please stop by the library and say hello!

December 15, 2018 (Vol. 25, No. 24) HAPPENINGS

Intellectual Freedom Champion Award 2019 – Nominations Open

Do you know an Intellectual Freedom Champion?  Intellectual Freedom Champions can be in any type of library or they might not work in a library at all.  IF Champions stand up for the principles of intellectual freedom and help to protect our rights to read and research, help preserve our access to information, and maintain our privacy.  The award is given in recognition of the contribution made by an individual, institution, or group that has actively promoted or defended intellectual freedom in Oregon.

The Intellectual Freedom Committee of the Oregon Library Association is now accepting nominations for the next IF Champion Award to be presented at the April 2019 OLA/WLA Conference.  Nominations are due no later than Monday, February 11, 2019.

The nomination form and details about the process are available on the Intellectual Freedom Committee IF Champion web page.  If you have questions about the award or nominations, please contact the co-chairs of the OLA Intellectual Freedom Committee.

Thank you!

Krista Reynolds, IFC co-chair