ALSC selects Stephanie Long as 2015 Emerging Leader

CHICAGO — The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) announced Stephanie Long of the Frederick County (Maryland) Public Libraries as its representative in the 2015 Emerging Leader program. Long is currently the acting children's services supervisor at the C. Burr Artz Public Library in Frederick, Maryland.

Long is also the creator of the STEM Lab at the C. Burr Artz Library. The lab, which opened on June 20, 2014, has attracted more than 1,000 visitors. She presented at the 2014 Maryland/Delaware Library Association Annual Conference on the topic of STEM programming. In addition to being a member of ALA and ALSC, she is also a member of the Maryland Library Association and the Leadership Development Division.

Demonstrating that an openness to change is requisite in the profession, Long came to libraries through journalism. Her first job after college was working as a local news reporter. She first began contemplating a career change after having a discussion with a staff member at a library.

"When I think of the future of libraries, I think of all of the things we can change and all of the places we can go," said Long. “In my STEM programs we are always talking about what works and does not work and what we can do to improve a project and make it work. You must be a visionary and a thinker to solve a problem, and I truly love solving problems."

“We’re extremely excited to welcome Stephanie as the 2015 ALSC Emerging Leader,” said ALSC President Ellen Riordan. “Stephanie has already demonstrated important leadership skills in her work creating and managing a STEM lab at her library. We expect big things for her in her career and her work with our association.”

As ALSC’s representative for the 2015 Emerging Leader program, Long will attend the 2015 Midwinter Meeting in Chicago, as well as the 2015 ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco.

The Emerging Leaders program enables newer librarians from across the country to participate in workgroups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA's structure and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Emerging Leaders receive up to $1,000 each to participate in the Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference, and each participant is expected to provide years of service to ALA or one of its units.

ALSC, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website: www.ala.org/alsc.