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: Dr. Abigail Phillips
Title & Library: Assistant Professor, School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Role on the Board: Director at Large
Year on the Board: 2nd year
What does YALSA mean to me?
AP: To me, YALSA means a compassionate and empathetic division that supports the needs of youth service librarians and library workers.
What are your hopes for the future of teen services?
AP: I would love learn more about the ways in which librarians and library workers can best support the emotional and mental health needs of teens. Teens are dealing with so much and deserve support adults in their lives.
What is your favorite YALSA Committee or Committee that you would love to be on again?
AP: I really enjoyed my time on the Frances Henne Research Grant committee. I love reading about research and learning more about the wide range of research out there focusing on teens and teen services.
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
AP: Grits, being from the South, and probably mac and cheese.
What TV show or Movie do you watch on repeat? Or a book you love reading when you’re between new books?
AP: Parks and Recreation for days! One of my all-time favorite books is “Furiously Happy” by Jenny Lawson.
What would you do or where would you go if you won the lotto?
AP: I would travel the world, read as much as possible, and being responsible I guess, pay off student debt.
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.
