Ever wanted to get to know the YALSA Board of Directors more? Here’s your chance! We’ll be posting fun mini-interviews with each board member all month long so you can get to know them a little better.
Name: Melanie Wachsmann
Title & Library: Library Director, Lone Star College-CyFair
Role on the Board: Director at Large
Year on the Board: 1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year: (MW: Not really sure how to answer this one since I have been filling in for people who drop off)*
What does YALSA mean to me?
MW: YALSA feels like home. As a brand new librarian, YALSA was the group that welcomed me and gave me the opportunity to get involved in meaningful ways. It allowed me to meet people from all over the country and to advocate and provide services to my teens. I love that I still get to work with people I met almost 20 years ago.
What are your hopes for the future of teen services?
MW: My hope is that all teens find what they need, whether it’s a place of acceptance, support, or a place to simply be a teen. Teens truly are the future, and I hope the work that we, the members of YALSA, do will inform and advocate for this amazing group of young people.
What is your favorite YALSA Committee or Committee that you would love to be on again?
MW: Amazing Audiobooks will always have my heart. I hope to one day be able to serve on the Odyssey Award committee.
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
MW: Turkey, brie, and apple sandwich
What TV show or Movie do you watch on repeat? Or a book that you love reading when you’re in between new books?
MW: Schitt’s Creek for TV and Dirty Dancing for the movie. Depending on my mood: Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt, Denton Little’s Death Date by Lance Rubin, or For Everyone by Jason Reynolds
What would you do or where would you go if you won the lotto?
MW: I would like to spend my time being a professional volunteer at an animal shelter and take a cruise around the world.
Want to run for YALSA Board? We’re looking for candidates for the 2024 ALA Election. If you will be at ALA Annual Conference in Chicago this summer, join us at YALSA 301 to learn more about YALSA Governance. Want to find out what the duties and responsibilities of the Director at Large are for the YALSA Board? Find them in the YALSA Handbook here. If you’ve been thinking about it why not fill out the nomination form today? Just click here.
*Note: Melanie began this term as the Chair of O&B, but stepped up to fill a vacancy when a Director-At-Large had to resign.
