The MCLS Board of Directors has accepted the Nominating Committee’s proposed slate of candidates for the five seats whose terms expire at the end of December 2018.

Electronic voting to approve the slate of candidates begins on September 17. All Member Representatives should receive an email on September 17 with voting instructions. Votes will be accepted via an online ballot. The voting deadline is 5 pm Eastern on October 1.

Slate of Board Nominees

At-Large Library Representative (Indiana)
Kathleen (Kate) Linderman, Librarian of Practice, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

Education:

• B.A. History, Franklin College of Indiana, 1991;
• MLIS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009

Work Experience:

• 2018 – present Librarian of Practice with focus on local knowledge & collections
• 2011-2018 Branch Manager, EVPL Red Bank and West Branches
• 2010-2011 Reference Services Supervisor, EVPL Central Library
• 2005-2010 Reader’s Advisor, EVPL, Oaklyn Branch and Central Library
• from 1995-2005, I worked as a museum professional within the Indiana State Museum system, and with Historic New Harmony (a program of the University of Southern Indiana)

Awards and Honors:

• EVPL MLS Scholarship recipient in 2008
• EVPL Leadership – Flagship class (2009)

Statement:
I’ve served on the board of MCLS since 2016, and worked with the board as we establish new ends for the organization at the end of 2017. I look forward to continuing to work with the organization, and seeing the new ends fall into place and effect real positive change within the library field. I also hope, as a board member, to be more active in spreading the word about MCLS in Indiana – particularly Southwestern Indiana.

Research Library Representative (Indiana)
Marion Frank-Wilson, Associate Dean for Collection Development and Archival Collections, Indiana University

Education:

• MA, University of Wurzburg and Bayreuth University (Germany)
• MA and Ph.D, Bayreuth University (Germany)
• MLS, UNC-Greensboro

Work Experience:

• Librarian for African Studies, Head of Area Studies; Associate Dean – all at Indiana University

Statement:
I served on the Board last year (completing Julie Bobay’s term) when the Board developed its new Ends statement. I am excited about the new statement and how it connects with discussions and trends in libraries at the larger, national level, and applies them to all Indiana and Michigan libraries. I look forward to continuing by service on the Board, and to be a part of these developments.

School Library Representative (Indiana)
Raenell Smith, School Library Media Specialist, Whiteland Community High School

Education:

• Indiana State University Education and Theatre; Indiana University MLS

Work Experience:

• English Language Arts and Theatre Teacher
• Theatre Director
• School Library Media Specialist

Awards and Honors:

• 4 time Scholars Banquet recognized Mentor Teacher
• 2012 WCHS FFA Honorary Chapter Membership
• 2015 EdTA Community Spotlight Member for May
• 2015 Nominee for the Excellence in Theater Education Award by the American Theatre Wing (Tony)

Statement:
I believe the role of the MCLS in Indiana and Michigan is to promote libraries of all levels through collaboration. Libraries and library professionals benefit through learning, growth and professional collaboration. Communities benefit when libraries and library professionals grow to meet their needs.

At-Large Library Representative (Michigan)
Paul Gallagher, Associate Dean for Resources and Digital Strategies, Western Michigan University Libraries

Education:

• Wayne State University – Bachelors of Fine Art
• Wayne State University – Masters of Library and Information Science

Work Experience:

• Associate Dean for Resources and Digital Strategies, Western Michigan University Libraries, where he focuses on building relationships between collections, technology, and scholarship.
• Assistant Dean, Wayne State University Libraries
• Director of Operations, Wayne State University Libraries
• Assoc. Director for Discovery Services, Wayne State University Libraries
• Developer Librarian, Wayne State University Libraries
• President of the Michigan Academic Library Association, and previously as a member of its first elected board.

Awards and Honors:

• Recipient of WSU’s School of Information Sciences “50 Distinguished Alumni in 50” Award.
• Institute of Museum and Library Services “Training the 21st Century Fine and Performing Arts Librarian” Recipient, Wayne State University
• Member Beta Phi Mu, Library and Information Science Honorary Society

Statement:
MCLS has a powerful word in its name – collaborative. It’s a broad term and could be demonstrated by the important work that MCLS conducts on behalf of its membership such as workshops, consortial purchasing, and supporting MeL. These activities provide a rich perspective on how library collaborations can serve their constituencies in ways that would be impossible to do alone.

However – in the words of Jim Neal – we’re moving from kumbaya to radical collaboration. There is great opportunity to grow our cooperation into radical new partnerships. While there is much discussion about how this may look, there is one component that has worked well: a medium. MCLS has served as this medium in a range of ways, from organizing discussions, providing leadership, and managing fiscal and governance concerns. MCLS’s value as an agent to support new ways of thinking has provided many great benefits beyond what may be considered “typical” consortial services.

The vision is clear: to build on the good work underway, and to change our thinking of how we relate and build the next generation of partnerships. MCLS is uniquely suited to serve as a collaborator, a medium, and a leader in this important space.

Public Library Representative (Michigan)
Eva Davis, Director, Canton Public Library

Education:

• BA, English, University of Michigan-Dearborn;
• MS, Information-Library & Information Services, University of Michigan

Work Experience:

• Director, Canton Public Library, 2008-present
• Associate Director of Public Services; Branch Services Manager; Youth Services Manager; Ann Arbor District Library, 2002-2007
• Teen Services Librarian, Plymouth District Library, 1998-2002
• Editor; Research Associate, Gale Research (now Gale | Cengage Learning), 1992-1998

Awards and Honors:

• MCLS Board of Directors, Public Library representative, 2014-present.
• Library Journal/EBSCO/NoveList LibraryAware Community Award, 2013.
• Frances H. Pletz Award for Teen Service, Michigan Library Association, 2002.

Statement:
I am proud to have worked with the MCLS staff and Board to envision a new future for libraries of all sizes and types in Indiana and Michigan. If re-elected, I hope to continue this work to support our members and help position them for the future.