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 candidate for President-Elect. The President-Elect serves a three-year term: President-Elect the first year, President the second year, and Immediate Past-President the third year. The President-Elect is a member of YALSA’s Executive Committee, along with the President, Past President, Fiscal Officer, Secretary and Councilor.
The President-Elect’s primary job is to learn the role of the President, and to make committee appointments. The President-Elect also has all the normal duties of a Board member.’ A full description of the President-Elect’s duties and responsibilities can be found here.
This year there is only one candidate for President-Elect. Governance candidates 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 Candice Mack.
Name and current position:’ ‘ Candice A. (Wingyee) Mack,,Senior Librarian, Los Angeles Public Library.
Why did you decide to run for a YALSA office? What excites you about serving on YALSA Board?
I want to give back to the association that has given me so much. YALSA members are my tribe and YALSA has helped me immeasurably in my career.
What areas of YALSA’s Strategic Plan do you think you can best contribute to? Why?
I will best contribute to YALSA’s strategic goals of advocacy and activism and member engagement and recruitment. Combining my passion for social justice and my background in fighting library budget cuts, I am the current chair of YALSA’s Standing Committee on Advocacy. I am also a past Chair of YALSA’s Division and Membership Promotion Committee, where I helped develop and implement the first YALSA 201 program.
What is the most pressing issue facing YALSA today?
Advocacy – advocating for teens, teen library services, resources, budgets and staff positions .
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?
Ongoing development of tips and strategies to assist teen library services staff in articulating the value and goals of their programs and resources to stakeholders, using the framework of connected learning.
What attributes have helped you succeed professionally?
Enthusiasm, creativity, optimism, meticulousness and tenacity.
What do you see as the primary role of the Board?
To move the association forward in ways that would best assist its members in serving teens.
If elected, how will you help YALSA members (in their daily work, in their careers, other)?
By working with YALSA members to devise easy ways to help members defend teen library resources, budgets, and staff positions.
What else would you like voters to know about you?
I’ve been scolded by library administration, yelled at by city councilmen and nearly arrested in demonstrations. But I will never stop fighting for what I believe in. Teens deserve the best teen library resources, space and staff, just as patrons of all ages deserve the best library resources, space and staff.
