Desch elected ASCLA president for 2008-2009
Contact: Eileen Hardy
ASCLA Marketing Specialist
312-280-4398
ehardy@ala.org
For Immediate Release
May 10, 2007
Desch elected ASCLA president for 2008-2009
CHICAGO—Carol Ann Desch, coordinator of Statewide Library Services and director of the Division of Library Development, New York State Library, Albany, has been elected president of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), for the 2008-2009 term.
Desch will become ASCLA president-elect in July 2007, and will assume the ASCLA presidency in July 2008.
“ASCLA, while a small division, has strong leadership, extensive expertise, and a membership with diverse backgrounds and interests,” said Desch, incoming president-elect. “I look forward to working with other ASCLA and ALA leaders to address the needs of our diverse membership and engage member talents to advance librarianship and library services across the nation.”
Desch has responsibility for New York’s $110 million statewide library development program benefiting 7,000 libraries. A leader in library advocacy, legislation and coalition building, Desch has also managed several Gates Library Initiatives. These grants bring computers, Internet access, and training to New York's neediest libraries, making Internet access a reality for all New Yorkers. She has brought together school, public, academic, and corporate libraries and has forged partnerships among libraries, the business community, and other organizations.
Desch has a bachelor’s degree in education and social sciences from the State University College of New York at Oneonta, and a master’s degree in library and information science from the State University of New York at Albany. She previously served as assistant to the director and library development specialist for the New York State Library.
As an active ASCLA member, Desch has served as a director-at-large for the ASCLA Board, chair of the State Library Agencies Section (SLAS) of ASCLA, member on the Standards Review Committee, and Website Task Force.
She received the 2001 Distinguished Alumna Award in Information Science and Policy from the State University of New York at Albany.
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.
