Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 19 through April 25, and to help you be an informed voter, we’re sharing interviews with each of the 2014 YALSA Governance candidates.
Today we’ll hear from the candidates for YALSA Fiscal Officer. The Fiscal Officer serves a three-year term, and is a member of YALSA’s Executive Committee, along with the President, President-Elect, Past President, Secretary, and Councilor. The primary responsibility of the Fiscal Officer is to work with the Board, Financial Advancement Committee and Executive Director to ensure the fiscal health of the association through proper financial oversight so that there are adequate resources for the organization to fulfill its mission. The Fiscal Officer also has all the normal duties of a Board member.’ A full description of the Fiscal Officer’s duties and responsibilities can be found here.
Candidates, who will be presented in alphabetical order, were asked to craft “Twitter-length” responses (i.e. around 140 characters). Full biographical information on all of the candidates can be found on the sample ballot.
Today we have an interview with Linda W. Braun.
Name and current position:‘ Linda W. Braun, Youth Services Manager, Seattle Public Library.
Why did you decide to run for a YALSA office? What excites you about serving on YALSA Board?
There are great opportunities for helping YALSA and its members move forward into an exciting teen library services future, I would like to help in that forward movement.
What areas of YALSA’s Strategic Plan do you think you can best contribute to? Why?
All – because my career and previous experience with YALSA has given me the opportunity to gain and practice the skills needed in order to support the 5 areas of the plan.
What is the most pressing issue facing YALSA today?
Building capacity in order to guarantee fiscal health so that the projects and activities needed to do the work of the association can be funded and sustained.
What priority activities should YALSA take on to address the “paradigm shift” as described in The Future of Library Services for and with Teens report?
Provide opportunities for those working with teens to gain the knowledge and skills needed to make the shift within their own institutions. ‘ This includes professional development, advocacy support, and digital and physical publications.
What attributes have helped you succeed professionally?
Big picture thinking, project management skills, respecting and valuing teens, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, future focused.
What do you see as the primary role of the Board?
To think strategically and with a big picture focus to help the association move forward in a way that supports the needs of members into the future.
If elected, how will you help YALSA members (in their daily work, in their careers, other)?
By helping the association make good decisions related to new and traditional initiatives and its fiscal health.
What else would you like voters to know about you?
I have spent several decades dedicating my work life to guaranteeing that teens receive the respect and services that they need from libraries and other educational institutions. Working with YALSA to support its members is a key component of that.
