The MCLS Board of Directors has accepted the Nominating Committee’s proposed slate of candidates for the five seats with terms expiring at the end of December 2020.
Electronic voting to approve the slate of candidates begins on Sept. 16. All Member Representatives should receive an email on Sept. 16 with voting instructions. Votes will be accepted via an online ballot up to the deadline of 5pm Eastern on Sept. 30.
Slate of Nominees
Academic Library Representative (Indiana)
Denise Shorey, Director of Library Services, Franklin College
Education:
BA – University of the West Indies; MLS – Rutgers University
Work Experience:
Denise began her career as a reference/instruction librarian at Princeton University and moved through progressively responsible positions including assistant director at Whitman College, head of reference services at Northwestern University, and associate director of user services at the University of Notre Dame. She has served as library director at Franklin College since 2016.
Awards & Honors:
Scholarships for undergraduate study and study abroad; ACRL Leadership Institute; College Library Directors Mentorship Program.
Statement:
Consortia are important to libraries through their ability to pool financial and human resources; provide leverage in vendor negotiations; and offer opportunities for shared training and staff development. As a regional consortium, MCLS offers neighboring libraries in Indiana and Michigan the chance to collaborate and to connect with each other for mutual professional and institutional benefit.
Special Library Representative (Indiana)
Patricia A. Lunsford, Librarian, Franciscan Health Lafayette
Education:
BA (Spanish) – State University of New York College at Cortland; MLS – Indiana University
Work Experience:
Librarian for the Medical Libraries and School of Nursing Library at Franciscan Health Lafayette and the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, Lafayette IN 1989–; Librarian for the Health Sciences, Ivy Tech Community College, Lafayette IN 1981-1989; Reference Librarian, Delta State University, Cleveland MS 1978-79.
Awards & Honors:
OVATION Award, Indiana Health Sciences Librarians Association 2015; People’s Choice Award, Franciscan Health Lafayette 2011; Commencement Keynote Speaker for St. Elizabeth School of Nursing 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018.
Statement:
MCLS is a uniquely collaborative organization which welcomes and serves every type of library and information center, including the patrons and residents of our member libraries and organizations. With diverse resources, talents, personnel, and membership, MCLS’s members are especially fortunate to share in a vast array of cost-effective and extraordinary opportunities for growth and development, service to their patrons, and collaboration and sharing among current and prospective members.
At-Large Library Representative (Michigan)
Kate Pohjola Andrade, Director, Woodlands Library Cooperative
Education:
BA (Political Science with a Public Administration Concentration) – Central Michigan University; MLIS – Wayne State University
Work Experience:
2013 to Current – Director, Woodlands Library Cooperative; 2011 to 2012 – Director, Ferndale Area District Library; 2005 to 2011 – Director, Lapeer District Library; 1995 to 2005 – Branch manager, Branch librarian and technician, Warren Public Library; Summer 1994 – Intern, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; 1986 to 1995 – Page and Clerk, Berkley Public Library
Awards & Honors:
Spring 2018 – Policy Governance Boot Camp; August 2016 – ALA Leadership Institute; Fall 2015 – Harwood Public Innovators Lab; October 2014 – MLA Leadership Academy Graduate; November 2007 – Inducted into the Family Literacy Center Hall of Fame.
Statement:
I am proud to serve on a board that understands that the successes of MCLS’s members is vital to the ongoing success of the organization as a whole. The work that our board committees is doing to more fully connect the membership with the organization is ongoing and impressive. Ultimately, this will serve both Indiana and Michigan libraries well as we navigate this new and unprecedented world together.
Research Library Representative (Michigan)
Arlene Weismantel, Senior Associate University Librarian, Michigan State University Libraries
Education:
BA – University of Michigan; MILS – University of Michigan
Work Experience:
MSU Libraries: Senior Associate University Librarian, 2014-present; Assistant Director, 2009-2014; Head of Reference Services, 2005-2009; Health Sciences Librarian, 2000-2005. Mayo Clinic Libraries: Head of Acquisitions, 1993-1996
Awards & Honors:
Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters: Secretary 2019-2020. Michigan Health Sciences Libraries Association: President 2005-2006
Statement:
I have had an opportunity to serve on the MCLS Board for one term. MCLS is a vibrant, forward-looking organization with potential for even greater achievement in helping libraries in both Michigan and Indiana to become the best that they can be. MCLS focuses on providing libraries with resources at a reasonable cost, fostering transformative learning and professional development opportunities for libraries, and providing consulting services to help libraries serve their constituencies in innovative ways. As a research library representative, I bring the perspective from a large institution; however, I am equally as committed to libraries of all types, including public and school libraries, and believe MCLS fosters important synergies that benefit us all.
School Library Representative (Michigan)
Kelly Boston, School Librarian, West Ottawa Public Schools
Education:
BA (Secondary Education, English, French) — Grand Valley State University; Graduate Certificate (Educational Technology) — Michigan State University, MLIS — Wayne State University
Work Experience:
I have worked as a school librarian for the past seven years at Wayland Union Schools. I have presented on educational technology at MAME and MACUL. I have been a speaker on supporting LGBTQ+ patrons, student, and staff at MAME and as part of a collaborative Inclusive Libraries series hosted by MCLS. I am currently serving as a Library Board Commissioner for Grand Rapids Public Library, and as part of MAME’s #MIselfinbooks committee, a project to curate diverse books with authentic perspectives for school librarians.
Awards & Honors:
Nominated as an “Outstanding Person for Education” for Allegan County in 2014 and 2019.
Statement:
I am all about inclusion. I would love to see MCLS continue its innovative work by finding creative solutions to the lack of diversity we are seeing in the library world. I believe MLCS is uniquely positioned to find ways to make it more accessible for BIPOC folks to become professionals in the field. Given the current issues the world is facing, I believe MCLS is extremely important as a resource to support libraries in providing access to unbiased information, much needed diverse representation in literature, and in challenging attempts at censorship. Thank you for your consideration.
