2011 Chair-Elect Candidates

Mary Keeling

I have many great library memories. My first is holding my mother’s hand as she pulled me up the high step into the bookmobile. As a high school student, I “hung out” in our school library, and may have been thrown out of it a time or two. You did not have to tell me “learning is social!”

I have worked in libraries for my entire professional life, first in technical services in an academic library, then as a special librarian in a history museum, and finally in school libraries. My first job gave me a basis for understanding project management, because we worked on many large projects to automate our catalog. My job in the museum library taught me flexibility and the value of generous and open public service. My work as a school librarian made me confront, daily, the inequities of our society. I believe that school libraries are the first best hope for many of our children, and that school librarians must actively shape reading opportunities and learning experiences for all students.

As a library supervisor, I have used my organizational skills and vision to improve school library services in my division. Our instructional program centers on a district-wide Inquiry Process model. Student access to materials has increased dramatically. Our collections are up-to-date, and we are exploring the use of electronic books to engage our high school readers. As a volunteer in my state association, I chaired concurrent sessions for our state meeting for two years. As President-Elect, I chaired our state meeting, coordinating the work of thirty committee members to produce a well-rounded and well-organized conference. As current President, I am working with other volunteers and elected officers to facilitate productive working meetings, improve communications through our web page, and work through the committee chairs to do the work of the association.

If elected Chair of the Affiliate Assembly, I will bring my organizational skills to the position, organizing the agenda and meeting events to bring out the talents and perspectives of the state affiliate representatives. It would be a great honor to serve my profession in this way.

Pam Renfrow

“There is no problem a library card can’t solve”-Eleanor Brown, author

My love for libraries began in my hometown where the sign reads, "Hartford, KY - Home of 2000 Happy People and a few Soreheads." My earliest memories of summer include long afternoons spent in yellow and orange leather chairs while reading in the periodical section of the public library. My mother read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books to me when I was a young girl, and taught me the value of libraries. I loved “Library Day” at school where I learned the Dewey Decimal System, genres of fiction, and the importance of organization!

I began my career in education as a Kindergarten teacher, but my love for books led me back to Western Kentucky University for a second Masters Degree in Library Science. I worked 20 years in public education in Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee, serving as librarian in elementary, middle and high schools. One of my most rewarding experiences was opening a high school library, and serving as the Director.

I currently work at St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School in the Veritas Research Center as a “Cybrarian.” Our mission states, “The word cybrary represents a hybrid library, a concept that marries the physical library with the virtual library to create a new-age concept of library, technology and library services.” Our patrons range in age from preschool to high school, and I work primarily with students in grades 5-8.

I believe it is important to be actively involved in professional organizations. I currently serve as President of the Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL); AASL National Conference 2011 - Program Co-Chair; member of the AASL National School Library Program of the Year Award Committee; and member of the AASL ABC-CLIO Leadership Grant Award Committee.>

I would be honored to serve as Chair-Elect of the Affiliate Assembly.

Krista Taracuk

Through effective advocacy, innovative learning, and successful networking, the library profession and our organization can continue to grow. I firmly believe that it is our responsibility and our challenge to educate future generations about the importance of libraries and the knowledge that they bring to the world.

I earned a degree in Education Media and English Education from Miami University, a Masters in Library Science from Kent State University, and principal’s certificate, assistant superintendent’s certificate, and coursework at Ohio State University towards doctorate in educational administration. After 35 years in public education and 12 years teaching undergraduate library science at Ohio Dominican University, I retired in June of 2010 and have devoted my time to promoting the library profession.

Activities for the Ohio Educational Library Media Association have included serving as President, President Elect who organized the conference, Regional Director, Spectrum senior editor, Nominating Committee Chair, By-laws Committee, Conference Planning Co-chair, Liaison to INFOhio Advisory Governing Board, and the OELMA Standards Committee. Publications include: “Tips for Administrators: From A Librarian’s Point of View,” Ohio Media Spectrum, “Building Partnerships,” Ohio Media Spectrum, Spring 2009, co-authored with Heidi Fletcher; “Networking,” Ohio Media Spectrum, Winter 2006; “Upgrading the Collection,” Ohio Media Spectrum, Winter 2003; “Educating Future Librarians through Service-Learning,” Ohio Media Spectrum, Spring 2002; “Dancing in the Aisles,” Phi Kappa Phi, 2002.

Although my main passion is libraries, other interests include activities with my family, promoting young adult novels and maintaining my blog on YA fiction at http://kristaspicks.blogspot.com, genealogy research, and raising yellow Labrador Retrievers.

André Taylor

Why do I want to be the chair of the AASL Affiliate Assembly? I’ve been working in the District of Columbia Public Schools for 13 years. During that time I have come so close to leaving the field. I stopped reading the journals, complained about financial hardship to attend meetings. Don’t even get me started about the district where I work.

What kept me in the field was the last DCASL President. I was one of the youngest and newest librarians at the time and slowly being chewed up by the school system. The current president put me in contact with the librarians in Region 2. I attended my first meeting and next thing I know I’m meeting librarians and volunteering for committees and being asked to work on committees such as AASL Affiliate Assembly as a delegate, ALA Henne Award Committee, AASL ABC Clio Award, AASL Research and Statistics Committee, AASL/NCATE Review committee and the National School Library Media Program of the year committee.

So I had to step up and stop complaining.

I’ve learned that what I bring to the table as an urban school librarian is important relevant and needs to be heard. I’ve also discovered that as librarians working in various school districts we are all broke at different levels and as a result have to operate in various ways to advocate for funding.

Being Affilate Assembly Chair is my way of giving back to the librarians who have and continue to help me grow as s librarian and an advocate for libraries, urban, rural or suburban.

Elections will take place at Affiliate Assembly II during the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA, on June 26, 2011.