Congratulations to the winners of this year’s ALTA Board elections!
The nomination deadline has passed and the results are in! Congratulations to the following trustees, elected by acclamation:
For Area 4: Diane Osberg
For Area 6: Martin Shields
For Area 7: Kelly Aisenstat (for a one year term)
For Area 8: Parrish Tungst
President-elect: Dwight Nagel from the Alix Public Library Board
The Calgary Public Library representative is Deirdre Harris. The Edmonton Public Library representative will be announced in April.
You will be able to find out more about your new board members in February’s issue of the Trustee Voice.
However, Area Two still requires representation – the boards west of Edmonton to Jasper! If you are a trustee who is interested in being the ALTA board representative for those areas, or if you know a trustee who might be interested, please see the contact information below.
The details:
- Area Directors serve on the ALTA Board for a 2 year term.
- Nominations can be made by any 2012 ALTA member in good standing. To renew your membership for 2012, click on the Join Us button in the top right of this page.
(Refer here for information regarding Areas.)
If you have any questions please send us an email or call the office at 780-761-ALTA.
President’s Notes – Thursday January 26, 2012
Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill.- Henry David Thoreau
Oh, to be as eloquent as Thoreau, or as witty as Seuss, orto write the perfect opening line.
Library Trustees need to gear up to be as literate and knowledgeable as possible about libraries as our community focal points. We need to articulate the impact of libraries in the context of 21st-Century technology and the competition of myriad marketplaces to access books. This spring, however, as provincial candidates step up to the responsibility of elected office in 87 constituencies, an overabundance of eloquence will not be necessary to communicate, convince, and encourage Albertan politicians to consider the crucial role of library services. ALTA has the key facts for you!
From years of experience in political campaigns, I assure you that hearing about libraries at doorsteps,community gathering places, and election forums and debates is ten times more impactful thansending out questionnaires and engaging in formal advocacy efforts. So in February’s Trustee Voice, watch for a print-ready Library Fact sheet, with space to add in your own community’s key points to help you make the case for the importance of libraries!
Talking about elections is occupying the ALTA Board this week, as the January 31 deadline for nominations draws near. Of the six open positions, four nominations have been received by the Returning Officer, Doug Cooper (volunteer extraordinaire). Areas 2 and 8 still need fresh, new thinkers. Here’s a map with the approximate geographic outline.
The term is two years. ALTA is now in good shape administratively, so Directors can focus on advocacy and trustee education in a generative model of governance. If you are knowledgeable about governance, understand the role libraries can play in creating community, believe in inclusive decision-making ,and enjoy meeting smart, passionate, and engaged Albertans serving on the ALTA Board – then please get yournomination papers in by January 31.
Recent news from the Public Library Services Branch has confirmed that our political leaders are already appreciative of the role of Alberta’s libraries. Congratulations to Dr. Diana Davidson, Director of the PLSB, for her Branch’s recent selection as recipient of the Municipal Affairs REACH Award for Leadership. ALTA commends Minister Griffithsfor recognizing the work of Public Library Services Branch to support librarians and libraries across the province. And we would like to remind readers of Trustee Voice that the Minister will be giving out more awards at ALC 2012. Note that the Minister’s Award for Excellence and Innovation in Public Libraries application deadline is February 17. Check here to see if your community’s library is the perfect candidate for this award:
