Mates elected ASCLA president for 2007-2008

Contact: Cathleen Bourdon

RUSA

312-280-4395

For Immediate Release

May 9, 2006

Mates elected ASCLA president for 2007-2008

CHICAGO - Barbara T. Mates, head, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Cleveland Public Library, has been elected president of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), for the 2007-2008 term.

Mates will become ASCLA president-elect in July 2006, and will assume the ASCLA presidency in July 2007.

"It is my belief that anyone seeking information has the right to access information when they need it, and in a format they can use independently," said Mates. "Those who cannot independently access print are often at a disadvantage when using the library. As ASCLA president, I will work with other library leaders to ensure that libraries are user-friendly for everyone."

Mates has a master's degree in library science from Case Western Reserve. She previously served as a branch manager and children's librarian at the Cleveland Public Library.

An active ALA member, Mates has served on ALA Council and currently serves as a member of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award Jury. She has chaired the Libraries Serving Special Populations Section, and served as a director-at-large on the ASCLA Board of Directors.

She is the author of "Computer Technologies to Aid Special Audiences,"
Library Technology Reports (ALA), May/June 2004; "5- Star Programming and Services for your 55+ Customer,"
ALA Programming Guides (ALA), 2003; and "Adaptive Technologies for the Internet,"
ALA Editions (ALA), 2000.

She received the Francis Joseph Campbell Award in 2001, the ASCLA Service Award in 1999, and the Ruth Garwood Award in 1995.

ASCLA is the ALA division devoted to the development of specialized and cooperative library activities.
Its 1,000 members represent state library agencies, specialized library agencies, multitype library cooperatives and librarians who work outside of traditional library settings.