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| "Slightly Different Perspective" |
On the first day of my first
class in my MLIS program I learned something about myself: I’m a bit of an oddball librarian.
As we went around the room introducing ourselves everyone had a unique story;
some were recent college grads, others had built careers in several different
industries before coming to librarianship, one person had just retired from a
long career before deciding to become a librarian. But I was the only person in
the room who said that being a librarian was my childhood dream.
I started in libraries as an
almost daily patron. As a pre-teen I volunteered to help the children’s librarian at my local library
with the summer reading program, and in high school I was hired as a part-time
page. I stayed on all through college and after graduation I took a position as
a full-time paraprofessional working the circulation and reference departments.
For two years I immersed myself in the library experience: I worked in
different departments, went to workshops, took webinars, experimented, asked
questions, and soaked up as much experience as I could get. By the time I
entered library school I had seen the library world from many different
perspectives. Public librarianship was everything I wanted in a career.
In library school I was exposed
to even more viewpoints. I surprised myself by falling in love with information
literacy instruction. I toyed with the idea of becoming a YA librarian; I even
ran the library’s
first YA summer reading program as my Professional Field Experience (University
of Rhode Island’s version of an internship). In classes we were constantly
looking at things from different perspectives. Learning to serve teens,
seniors, recent immigrants, minority populations—all required examining the library in a different way. It was a sort
of constant secret shopping, but one perspective we never explored was that of
a member of a library’s
governing body.
On the list of things I thought I’d add to my resume “local politician”
was way down on the list (probably somewhere between international hip hop
phenomena and princess). Which is why I was surprised to find myself, this time
last year, pulling nomination papers to run for the board of library trustees
at my local library. By this time I had graduated from library school and was
working as an information services librarian in another town. I missed my local
library and looking for a way to be of service. When I found out one the board
members had decided not to run for re-election I approached the director to ask
if she thought it was feasible for me to run. She was positive and supportive,
as were family and friends, so I took the plunge.
I really did not know what I was
getting into. I only knew one other librarian who had served on a board (one of
my amazing professors from URI) and quite frankly had never thought of the board
of trustees as a place for a young librarian. I got my paperwork and commenced
soliciting fifty signatures from registered voters. It was hard for me; even
though I work in a service profession, I’m a natural introvert, but it was important to me,
so I approached people in the pharmacy, local coffee shop, even the bowling
alley. Each time I said, “My name is Amanda Viana and I’d like to run for the Board of
Library Trustees, would you please sign my nomination papers?” it reaffirmed my
decision to run. By March I was relieved to find out that I was running
unopposed; in May I giddily snapped a forbidden picture of the ballot with my
name on it.
The board of library trustees is
charged with guiding the library and making decisions that support the library’s mission. They make big
decisions that affect the way the library functions and can have a huge impact
on the staff. As a librarian, I’ve
accepted these decisions with various levels of enthusiasm but I’ve never truly understood how the
process works. Before becoming a trustee I never attended a board meeting; I
had never even read the meeting minutes and I don’t think that I was a rarity among
young librarians.
My months on the board have
taught me how information is presented, how different opinions are expressed,
the types of priorities a governing body can have, and how matters are debated.
This knowledge has helped me understand better how to approach the Board of
Trustees at the library where I work. It has also given me a brand new
perspective on library administration. And I like to believe that I have been a
positive addition as a trustee. I bring with me all those other perspectives I
learned in library school, as well as that of a library employee. I like to
think my viewpoint is unique and fresh, and that sometimes I can change the way
others think about the library. Recently the board was able to speak directly
with a town selectman about the library budget, staffing, and priorities. I was
able to advocate for the library in a whole new way. I had the perspective of a
librarian and the authority of a member of the governing board.
Every young librarian should take
the time to explore their library’s
governing body. This doesn’t
have to mean becoming a member. It can be as simple as reading their bylaws,
reviewing meeting minutes, or even attending a meeting. Discovering the mission
and the priorities of the library’s
governing body can help you better fulfill the library’s mission. Giving input can help
board members better understand what it’s like to work for the institution. Being a library trustee
has given me an invaluable perspective on libraries and it’s one of the best things I’ve done for my career.
Amanda Viana is the Information
Services Librarian and Assistant Director at the Norton Public Library in
Massachusetts. She is also a member of the Board of Library Trustees at the
Somerset Public Library and the Head Editor of INALJ Massachusetts. She has over ten years of
experience in public libraries and graduated with her MLIS and Certificate in
Information Literacy Instruction from the University of Rhode Island in 2011.
In her free time she enjoys knitting, reading, and Netflix bingeing. You can
find her on Twitter @NrdyLkARockstar.
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