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Endorsements I very much appreciate the support from my colleagues and appreciation of my leadership and welcome others to contribute an endorsement. Please e-mail me at my campaign e-mail, skj4ala@gmail.com. Thank you very much. Let's give Sara Kelly Johns the chance to lead ALA. She's got the leadership, inspiration and skills to take our association and librarianship to new heights. If anyone can do the balancing act, walk the tightrope and come out a winner, it's Sara. She is articulate, caring, experienced and passionate about the power of our profession. I've seen her again and again bring people together successfully on projects and issues. She is tireless and determined. She understands our diverse talents and interests, and knows how to orchestrate a symphony. She never loses sight of her goal to bring home the excitement and worth of what librarians and libraries do, a goal we all share. With Sara at the helm, the American Library Association – and all of us – will shine. As Chair of the New York City Council Select Committee on Libraries, I’ve seen firsthand how dedicated Sara Kelly Johns is to advocating on behalf of libraries. Electing Sara Kelly Johns as President of the ALA would be incredibly exciting and energizing not just for the library systems of New York City and New York State, but for the country in general. I whole-heartedly and enthusiastically endorse Sara Kelly Johns for president of the ALA. Is there a more serious advocate for libraries—who at the same time never forgets the fun, excitement, and wonder that libraries can create—than Sara Kelly Johns? The answer is no. I’ve known Sara since we were kids together in the New York Library Association. Then Sara had a passionate interest in ALL libraries, and a rich understanding of how they can work together to serve both youth and adults. Since becoming editor at School Library Journal I’ve gotten to know the “grown-up” Sara, someone who is poised, articulate, and confident in expressing the value of libraries—a value she learned from working one-on-one with students, from her years in leading public libraries, and from teaching on the university level. Sara gets the “small picture,” what great libraries can mean in the lives of users, as well as the “big picture,” why we need to champion the impact that libraries have to state and federal stakeholders. I’m very happy to endorse Sara as ALA’s next president. Viva Sara!Brian Kenney | Editorial Director I am thrilled to be able to offer my endorsement for Sara Kelly Johns. I have been in Public libraries for 20+ years and have had the benefit of working with Sara Kelly Johns. We were the co-chairs of Membership for the New York Library Association. Working together we accomplished a lot, and also had fun doing it. Sara Kelly Johns bring the understanding of the issues and the ability to communicate; which are all necessary for the ALA Presidency. Sara also knows when to smile to smile, laugh, and still get the job done. We experienced first hand what it feels like to have Sara Kelly Johns on your side; she is fearless and resolute, fully committed to championing the entire library ecosystem. Add to that a remarkable amount of graciousness and savvy and you've got exactly what the profession needs to emerge stronger than ever before. The American Library Association ballot, soon to be sent electronically to all 63,000 members, includes Sara Kelly Johns, seeking to serve us as President-elect/President and James (Jim) Neal seeking to serve as Treasurer. Sara is an acclaimed school librarian/school library media specialist (Lake Placid Middle/Sr. High School), formerly served as President of the Association of School Libraries and is a current member of the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries. Also in the queue for President-elect/President of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is Frank D’Andraia, Service Professor in the Department of Information Studies at the University at Albany, State University of New York. It is especially appropriate that New York’s library leadership is being tapped for national leadership. I am pleased to add my endorsement to the candidacy of Sara Kelly Johns for the presidency of ALA. Anyone who has worked with Sara on library issues knows her devotion to our causes. We know that her tenure as a member of the higher education side of the house has married well with her experience as a librarian and media specialist in secondary education. She has served the New York State library community in leadership positions on our boards and professional organizations. Sara will bring her broad perspective to the leadership of ALA, a perspective that will serve the organization and profession well as we seek to present our positions to the broader community, as well as retain and attract members to our organization. Irene Kwidzinski of the Connecticut Association for School Librarians, posted an entry on the organization's Ning about the February 20, 2010 workshop on School Librarians and Leadership with Sara Kelly Johns as keynote: "Sara is a wonderful role model. She is a practicing school librarian in Lake Placid, has been AASL president, teaches at the university, is associate editor of Knowledge Quest, and is a trustee at her public library. She had a great quote by John F. Kennedy, 'Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.' " Sara Kelly Johns has all the right stuff! She is energetic, dedicated to the library profession, smart, highly motivated, personable, caring, hard working, and knowledgeable. She has a proven track record as a capable leader, both at the state and national levels and is a staunch advocate for all libraries. She will represent our field to the public and the media strongly and admirably. We could not have a more worthy candidate than Sara. Energy, enthusiasm and experience; a perfect theme to describe my friend and colleague Sara Kelly Johns. It is rare indeed to find a candidate for ALA President who understands and actively represents the viewpoints and needs of school, public and academic libraries. Even rarer is to find a candidate still in touch with our customers, students, patrons on a daily basis. It has been my pleasure to work with Sara on many of the most critical issues facing libraries today. Her dedication, focus and leadership are remarkable. And it doesn’t hurt that she’s got a wicked sense of humor! It is my sincere pleasure and honor to endorse Sara Kelly Johns for the presidency of the American Library Association. As a university librarian, former public library director, and former school librarian, I know that Sara understands and actively promotes the importance of all types of libraries and their impact on our society. Sara took a great interest in my research into adult Millennials and immediately saw the importance in better understanding our library users and patrons. Sara is a high energy, personable candidate who will be a great, hard working advocate as President of our professional association. I hope that you will consider her worthy of your vote.It is my sincere pleasure and honor to endorse Sara Kelly Johns for the presidency of the American Library Association. As a university librarian, former public library director, and former school librarian, I know that Sara understands and actively promotes the importance of all types of libraries and their impact on our society. Sara took a great interest in my research into adult Millennials and immediately saw the importance in better understanding our library users and patrons. Sara is a high energy, personable candidate who will be a great, hard working advocate as President of our professional association. I hope that you will consider her worthy of your vote. Actions not words – that’s the requisite mantra for the library field in the 2010s. I am very pleased to endorse the candidacy of Sara Kelly Johns for ALA president. Throughout her career, Sara has shown the highest commitment to quality library service and is an outstanding advocate for libraries. I have worked with Sara on the New York Library Association Legislative committee. We have planned numerous library lobbying efforts in the New York State capitol, Albany, as well as in Washington. Her understanding of funding and political issues surrounding libraries and their communities enables her to plan strategically for effective advocacy. When meeting with elected officials at the state or federal level, Sara makes complicated library funding issues understandable. Sara's passion for libraries and library service makes a dedicated library supporter out of anyone who meets with her. She would be an outstanding spokesperson for all library communities as ALA President. One of my favorite people, Sara Kelly Johns, is running for the presidency of the American Library Association. Please, when the time comes, take a moment and vote for her. Don't hold my endorsement against her. I am proud to call Sara my friend. But when I think about it, she is, and has always been, a friend to libraries, and to those whom libraries serve. Sara Kelly Johns will represent us all as ALA president. Her passion for the promotion and evolution of our field spans ALA divisions. It spans so many years. Far too often I've felt leaders of my professional organizations were out of touch with the needs of school librarians (the title just recently voted for/adopted at ALA Midwinter 2010), but having our own Sara Kelly Johns leading ALA will ensure that teacher librarians (my choice for my title) everywhere will be in the minds of leadership as ALA takes on initiatives, activities and plans for moving the organization forward. Join me in voting for Sara Kelly Johns as the 2010 ALA President Elect. I am writing in support of Sara Kelly Johns’ campaign for ALA president. The New York Library Association Council voted to endorse Sara Kelly Johns for ALA President because of her leadership role at the state and national levels, advocating on behalf of all types of libraries and demonstrating a clear understanding of the library community and the important role it plays in our society. |
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