AASL 2012 Elections

ISS Chair-Elect

Cheri Dobbs

Current Position:

Middle School Media Specialist and Coordinator of Library Services PreK3-Grade 12, 1995- Media Specialist, 2003- added Coordinator, Detroit Country Day School, Beverly Hills, MI

Previous Positions:

Librarian, Charleston County Library, 1992-95

Degrees and Certificates:

University of Kentucky, M.S.L.S., 1992; University of Tennessee, B.S. in Communications, 1988

ALA and/or ALA-APA Activities:

Member, Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children committee, ALA, 2004

Member, Cavendish, Clift & Hoy Scholarship Committee, ALA, 2003

Member, Notable Software for Children Committee, ALSC, 2007

Member, Web Resource Guides Editorial Board, AASL, 2005-2008

Member, Sibert Award Committee, ALSC, 2006

Member, Caldecott Medal Committee, ALSC, 1997-98

Member, Liaison with Mass Media Committee, ALSC, 1995-97

Member, Andrew Carnegie Medal Committee, ALSC, 1994-95

Honors and Awards (library and non-library):

Library Journal “Movers & Shakers” Awards, 2002

Team Player Award, CharlestonCounty Library, 1995

Bright Idea Award, CharlestonCounty Library, 1995

EBSCO/ALA Conference Scholarship, Midwinter conference, 1995

Friends of the Library ALA Conference Scholarship, Charleston County Library, 1993

Beta Phi Mu, Library Science Honor Society, 1992

Dean’s List, University of Tennessee, 1984-88

Mortar Board honor society, member and publicity chairman, 1987-88

Kappa Tau Alpha, communications honor society, 1988

Major Accomplishments:

Member, NoodleTools Advisory Council, 2010 - present;

Presenter, “Connecting the Dots Using 21st-Century Skills,” Michigan Joint Education Conference, 2009;

Visiting Evaluation Teams, Independent Schools Association of the Central States, 2007, 2009;

Presenter, “CPR for Deflated Readers: Critical Steps to Breathe Life into Your Reading Program,” AASL national conference, 2005 and Association of Independent Michigan Schools biannual conference, 2005;

Presenter, “We are Wired: How Laptops Jolted Our School,” AASL, 2001;

Presenter, “Native, Immigrant, Slave and Pioneer: Tracing the Diverse Roots of Contemporary American Folklore,” National Council of Teachers of English national conference, 2000;

Presenter, “Collaboration: The Attic Archaeology Project,” AASL national conference, 1999;

Presenter, “Exploring Diversity,” AASL national conference, 1999;

Guest speaker, “Censorship and Selection,” RDG 570, The Author’s and Illustrator’s Art and Craft, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, 1998, 1999

Publications:

“QR Codes in the Library: It’s Not Your Mother’s Barcode!”, Library Media Connection, August-September, 2011;

“Introducing 21st-century Research and Information Literacy Skills: A Year-long Process” with Wayne Wheatley, et al, Science Scope, Summer 2010;

“Remaining Relevant: How Joining the Whyville Community Can Help,” KQ Web, vol. 36, no. 2, November/December, 2007

Statement of Professional Concerns:

Having benefited many times throughout the years from the collegiality and supportiveness of the Independent Schools Section (ISS), I am excited about the prospect of being elected to chair this section. The value of the professional learning community created by being part of this specialized group cannot be overstated, especially for librarians who, in many cases, are the only librarian in their school. Independent school librarians work in special environments and face opportunities and challenges that are unique to us. As the chair of the ISS, I will actively continue the advocacy, programming and networking opportunities that are so important to us as well as represent our interests to AASL and ALA.

Member of ALA since:

1990