[SCLA] Calling for support for fellow Suffolk County Librarian in the upcoming ALA Election!

[Blend, Alexander]

PDF version of Press Release attached.

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Part of SCLA’s Mission is to provide support to libraries and library staff throughout Suffolk County. I’d like to introduce you to Melissa Sutter, Outreach and Reference Librarian at the Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton. Melissa is the only candidate from Suffolk County running for a Councilor-at-large position on the ALA Council. Please read Melissa’s bio below as well as the information about the ALA Council.


I encourage everyone to support Melissa. If you are a member of ALA, please vote for Melissa. The election runs from Monday, March 13th through Wednesday, April 5th, 2023 and will be emailed to ALA members. All members in good standing as of January 31, 2023 may vote in the election. Your vote not only shows your support for a colleague, but also ensures more representation for Suffolk County libraries on a national level. If you are not currently an ALA member, considering joining or would like to renew your membership, you can do so by contacting ALA at membership at ala.org<mailto:membership at ala.org> or by phone at 800.545.2433. Please contact ALA if you do not receive your ballot.


Regardless of your ALA membership status, please support Melissa by sharing this information with your coworkers. It is important that we continue to make a concerted effort for Suffolk County Libraries to retain a strong presence at a national level.


Meet Melissa Sutter:

I’m Melissa Sutter and I’m running for ALA Council! I have worked in Suffolk County libraries since 2014 in a variety of positions including page, circulation clerk, administrative assistant and finally an outreach and reference librarian at Rogers Memorial Library. I graduated from St. Joseph’s University with a BA in English and minor in history in 2016 and received my MLIS from the University of Buffalo in 2021. From the outset of my career as a librarian, I have been passionate about outreach. Some members of the community who could most benefit from library resources are also those who have the greatest barriers to access.


At a time when free and equitable access to information is threatened, the governing body of American libraries bears more responsibility than ever to bring services to patrons where they are. I wish to guide the profession in reaching more patrons than ever before in innovative ways. More specifically, as an ALA councilor with a lifetime of experience in Suffolk County libraries as both a patron and an employee, I will have a vested interest in bringing the issues I see every day to the governing body of ALA. Suffolk libraries have much to contribute to a national conversation and if elected, I will ensure our voices are heard.


ALA Council Information:

"The ALA Council is the governing body of ALA. It delegates authority to the divisions of the Association to plan and carry out programs and activities in accordance with policy established by Council. Council determines all policies of the Association and its decisions are binding unless set aside by the membership (ALA Bylaws Article VI, Section 4 (c).

There are 186 Council members: 100 Councilors-at-Large; 50 Chapter Councilors; 8 Division Councilors; 12 Executive Board members, and 10 Round Table Councilors. Any personal member of the Association can be elected to the ALA Council. The officers of Council are the ALA President, ALA President-Elect and the ALA Executive Director."

More information about the Council and Council duties can be found here: https://www.ala.org/aboutala/basic-guide-ALA-council-and-resources

Thank you,

Alex Blend
SCLA President
Middle Country Public Library
101 Eastwood Blvd.
Centereach, NY 11720
(631)-585-9393 ext. 272<https://www.mcplibrary.org/>
blendalex at mcplibrary.org

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