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Kay Slater Named a 2025 Core Emerging Leader

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CHICAGO—Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is pleased to announce that Kay Slater has been selected as a Core Emerging Leader (EL). Slater is a Creative Technology Specialist at Oak Park Public Library (OPPL) in Oak Park, IL. In that role, they work in the Creative Studio, the library’s main makerspace. They advocate for technology access and digital collections in libraries within and outside of their work at OPPL–in the past few years they have co-written an article on artificial intelligence literacy for Public Libraries magazine, helped present a community program based on the article, coordinated two days of repository tours as preconferences for the Society of American Archivists’ ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2024 meeting, and developed programming and outreach to broaden possibilities for media preservation and personal archiving.

Slater says, “I hope to gain more knowledge about how to be an effective leader that is accountable and a force for change. I am very lucky to be in an area of the country that is very supportive of libraries and the labor that library workers do–I also think I have much to learn from my colleagues in other areas of the country who face more risk for doing the same work that I do. Finally, while networking is an important aspect of being a leader in the field of librarianship, I hope to form relationships that are built on a drive for service, collaboration, and mutual aid within the ALA that, in listening, learning, and doing, help us stand together against the threat of fascism and the demonization of our vocation.”

One of 50 library workers chosen from across the U.S. and Canada, Slater will participate in project planning work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into the ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Following a virtual, day-long kickoff session during ALA LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience (LibLearnX), the program will continue in an online learning and networking environment for six months, culminating in a presentation of the groups' work at the 2025 ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA this June. Core is sponsoring three Emerging Leaders for 2025. Learn more about the ALA Emerging Leaders Program.

About Core

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is the national association that advances the profession of librarians and information providers in central roles of leadership and management, collections and technical services, and technology. Our mission is to cultivate and amplify the collective expertise of library workers in core functions through community building, advocacy and learning. Core is a division of the American Library Association. Follow us on our Blog, Instagram or LinkedIn.

Contact:

Julie Reese

Executive Director

American Library Association

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures

jreese@ala.org