AASL 2009 Elections
Terri G. Kirk
President-Elect
Degrees and Certifications
Murray State University, MA, 1999; Murray State University, MA, 1994; Western Kentucky University, BA, 1979.
Current Position
School Librarian, Reidland High School, 1989-Present.
Previous Positions
School Librarian, McCracken County Board of Education, 1989-Present.
ALA Activities
AASL: Pre-Conference Chair, National Conference 2009, 2008-Present; ALA: Board member, Executive Board, 2005-Present; AASL: Division Councilor, Executive Committee, 2003-06; AASL: Program Co-Chair, National Conference Committee, 2001-03; AASL: Chair, Affiliate Assembly, 2000-00.
Offices Held in State & Regional Library and Other Associations
Kentucky School Media Association: Chair, Eleanor Simmons Grant Committee, 2005-Present; Kentucky Library Association: Chair, Communications, 2004-07; Kentucky School Media Association: Chair, Conference Committee, 2003-04; Kentucky School Media Association: Chair, Technology, 1999-2004; Kentucky Library Association: President, 2001-02; Kentucky School Media Association: President, 1997-98.
Publications
"Learning+Passion+Commitment=Success," Knowledge Quest, September/October 2007; "Affiliate Power," Knowledge Quest, January/February 2001.
Honors, Awards, Prizes, Medals, Citations
McCracken County Education Association, Teacher of the Year, 2002; Kentucky School Media Association Outstanding School Librarian Award, 2001.
Accomplishments
My major accomplishment in the association was my election to the ALA Executive Board. One of AASL Strategic Goals is to build influence for AASL in "big" ALA. School level LMS' have rarely been elected to the Executive Board of ALA. I feel like I am a pioneer because another school librarian, Diane Chen, was elected this past year. The next election will be in January and there are three people on the ballot for the Executive Board! I didn't really think that I had a chance to win but was encouraged by others to try. This has opened doors for other school people to be taken seriously in the association. As a member of the EB, I am liaison to about 10 other groups in the ALA. I feel that this position has brought credibility and understanding throughout the association that we are all in this effort together. While there are differences in each type of librarian, our main focus--our students and patrons--is the same no matter where one works.
Statement
During these tough financial times, school libraries are more important than ever. Every dollar that a school spends in the library is spent for the benefit of every teacher and student. As the value of school libraries is questioned, we must demonstrate our worth and enlist new allies. We must recruit others to join us in our efforts by becoming members of ALA/AASL. We must encourage our colleagues to join not for the benefit of our association, but for the profession of school librarianship as a whole. We serve students across the U.S., but our contributions are often overlooked. If we grow AASL’s numbers, our accomplishments are multiplied and our successes shared. We become a stronger, wider and more effective organization. The SKILLS Act can be passed working together. We must form a united front to obtain this and more. Membership means visibility, and that means not being overlooked again.
Support AASL
Join AASL
