A Tribute To My Friend Sari

I played the part of a "groupie" at the Midwinter conference of the American Library Association in Boston, January 9-13. Sari Feldman my good friend from UW-Library School is the current President of the association and in that capacity instigates national initiatives and programs at the conferences along with a host of other duties I can't even imagine. I shared her suite for a few days to be of help or support (which she did not need). I cruised through the exhibits, went to some programs, and attended her party. And then I toured Boston and on my last day immersed myself in the Museum of Fine Arts. (Maybe that will warrant its own post.)

ALA President Sari Feldman at ALA Midwinter in Boston.

Sari has accomplished much in her library career. She is currently the director of the Cuyahouga County Library System in Ohio. It is an award-winning library system. I have always been inspired by professional and community partnerships that Sari has initiated in every place she's worked. From author readings, to new parent programs, to theater connections, you name it, she's done it. And in many cases she invented it!

A funny aside here: While in Boston, I had breakfast with a friend from Chicago who I knew when I was working at ALA. She mentioned that when walking through the exhibits she had come across a booth for the US Passport Service. They are looking to libraries to be centers for passport applications. Each center receives a fee for processing the applications. It seemed to me like such a logical local connection. I too stopped by and chatted with the staff. Later, I mentioned it to Sari and her staff. The response: "Oh, yea, we've been doing that since 2010. We've trained all our staff so anyone can be of assistance in all of our 28 branches. We make about $10,000 a month. We were facing a budget cut and were looking for ways to increase revenue. It was easy." Not an exact quote, but an example of Sari's willingness to jump on opportunities. The libraries can then help with books and information about travel destinations and promote the collection. What a no-brainer. Does your library offer this service?

Wandering the exhibits; felt like old times.

Sari has surrounded herself with young, smart, and energetic staff. She actively manages the careers of those she sees as stars in the profession. She also recruits seasoned workers from other areas who will compliment or enhance her staff mix. I was fortunate to spend time with some of these people. It seemed like a dream work situation. Fun people who jump at the chance to try new ideas.

Sari's professional roots go back to 1976 and Dr. Margaret Monroe at the University of Wisconsin (Madison) Library School. Margaret was also one of my professors and she was a woman that many people feared. But, she had a vision for libraries that she passed on to many of her students. At that time we used the phrase "Libraries as Change Agents." Sari's (and ALA's) new national initiative is called "Libraries Transform." Margaret would be proud of what Sari has done for the profession and for the communities where she's worked. 

I hope that more libraries will be inspired by this transformation and instead of wringing our hands about how libraries will disappear in the age of technology, wake up to realize that it is through libraries the people will be able to tap into technology and participate in society on a more equal footing. One slogan of the campaign that strikes home is:

Libraries Transform 
because more than a quarter of US households 
don't have a computer with an internet connection.

US Senator Cory Booker at ALA Midwinter in Boston.

The most inspiring program that Sari initiated and I attended at the ALA conference was the presentation by Cory Booker, the US Senator from New Jersey. He has a book coming out in February (that's why publishers will sponsor speakers at conferences). I think it's title is United. This isn't a post about Cory Booker, but I think he's a person to watch. Some have mentioned him as a VP option. I don't know about that, yet. He's smart, very articulate, charismatic, big (former football player), and vegan. A favorite quote from his parents (who faced major housing discrimination after coming to Newark to work for IBM) to Cory: "You are drinking from the well, buy you did not dig it." You can feel his drive to contribute when you hear him speak. 

And what am I contributing? And what have I contributed? And what should I contribute? And how would I do that? All these questions swirl in my mind. Donations aren't enough (for me). My forays into volunteerism are feeble. Would I be more satisfied if I had gone into the library profession after library school? I do not regret any of the 4 "careers" that I've had. I enjoyed all of them. I felt that what I was doing was important. I learned from them. But I don't feel done.

I am happy to have friends like Sari and others who have worked in the library profession their entire career and have contributed in significant ways. Thank you.