Please post. Eligible ALA members, please vote for Kelvin Watson and tell all your friends and colleagues in ALA to do the same and spread the word. Thank you!
*Elliot H. Gertel* *Irving M. Hermelin Curator Emeritus of Judaica * *The University of Michigan * *Ann Arbor, Michigan * *eger...@umich.edu* <eger...@umich.edu> ----- Forwarded Message ----- *From:* "American Library Association" <a...@ala.org> *Sent:* Thu, Mar 10, 2022 at 8:01 AM *Subject:* Kelvin Watson for ALA President – KelvinWatsonForLibraries.com <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://kelvinwatsonforlibraries.com/__;!!KGKeukY!lnTeEULpVCDRAWytjBh7tNYXkdnG3bp-_tSUAVfNcJJNqv3b6NMMKiLxXifsp8nRSet8f6JqlUnO55E$ > Dear Colleagues: I want to thank each of you who have attended our campaign forums, sent me questions and feedback, and participated in this important election process. Now more than ever, I believe that with new ideas on governance, new and unique funding models, and new resources to support staff and the profession, we can build on present successes to create real, measurable change through the power of the ALA. We must start by better advocating for library workers and establish new career paths within our profession. To create a library workforce of the future, we must broaden our library science degrees. This could include courses in business, technology, the sciences, social work, and public policy, which would expand our knowledge base and build advocacy from a variety of life experiences and perspectives. Pivoting toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) among library workers is critical in making our spaces more welcoming for the communities we serve, who are more ethnically, racially, and gender-diverse than ever before. In order to build trust and engagement, they need to see themselves reflected in our libraries. We must also demonstrate to our community stakeholders that libraries are the best possible investment of tax dollars and philanthropy. Beyond our buildings, we can demonstrate the value we bring when we meet those we serve where they are. This means leveraging our collections (both physical and digital) in places like parks, prisons, and hospitals. Attracting investment in our infrastructure — human, digital, and bricks and mortar — is achievable in every small town and big city. I look forward to showing you how. Throughout my career, beginning as a US Army officer, later in private industry, and finally as a librarian, I have experienced the benefits of leading, which includes organizing, collaborating, and forging a strategic vision that elevates those I’ve served internally and externally. My action plan has been formed by your specific goals and concerns, and if elected, I will continue to seek out your ideas and solutions to the challenges that we face. My plan includes: - Advocating for our role as defenders of intellectual freedom - Advocating for safety and fairness in our workplaces - Taking steps to realize greater DEIA, and social justice for all library workers - Leveraging my proven fiscal experience to raise funds and reinvest in our people and profession - Advocating for our public, school, academic, and special libraries - Supporting and furthering ALA’s sustainability goals I am the first ALA Spectrum Scholar (2006) and ARL Diversity Participant Scholar (2005, now Kaleidoscope) to run for this office. I believe this is an affirmation of why diversity leadership and recruitment programs work, and why we must expand them to attract a broader diverse ALA membership. Most importantly, this election is about you and your hopes for the future of ALA. As a country, and a profession, we face changes and challenges that have not been seen in a generation. We must stand together as advocates for what we believe in and not waver against a loud and vocal minority. This is why I am asking for your vote for ALA President, so that with your help, all staff in our ecosystem can work together to implement proven models of success. I invite you to visit my website at KelvinWatsonForLibraries.com <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://kelvinwatsonforlibraries.com/__;!!KGKeukY!lnTeEULpVCDRAWytjBh7tNYXkdnG3bp-_tSUAVfNcJJNqv3b6NMMKiLxXifsp8nRSet8f6JqlUnO55E$ >. With sincere appreciation, Kelvin Watson [image: ALA American Library Association] *Read this email in a browser <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://ala.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMDQ4NzI3MyZwPTEmdT0xMDA3NDA1NjE0JmxpPTkzMzcxMDQ1/index.html__;!!KGKeukY!lnTeEULpVCDRAWytjBh7tNYXkdnG3bp-_tSUAVfNcJJNqv3b6NMMKiLxXifsp8nRSet8f6JqlKY5VZ8$ >* *American Library Association (ALA),* *225 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1300 Chicago, IL 60601* *https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.ala.org__;!!KGKeukY!lnTeEULpVCDRAWytjBh7tNYXkdnG3bp-_tSUAVfNcJJNqv3b6NMMKiLxXifsp8nRSet8f6JqyXdncTs$ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://ala.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMDQ4NzI3MyZwPTEmdT0xMDA3NDA1NjE0JmxpPTkzMzcxMDQ4/index.html__;!!KGKeukY!lnTeEULpVCDRAWytjBh7tNYXkdnG3bp-_tSUAVfNcJJNqv3b6NMMKiLxXifsp8nRSet8f6JqpOBQl1o$ >*
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