Camila Alire
Dean Emerita, University of New Mexico and Colorado State University Libraries
American Library Association President-Elect, 2009-2010
Walk the walk – do what you say you are going to do. People are very wise to using lip-service to advance oneself.
Briefly, how do you describe what you do as a librarian to your family or to people at a party?
Short version: Now that I have the time to devote to doing things I want to do, I have been busy traveling giving seminars, speeches, and teaching about various aspects of library and information services. I just co-authored two books last year and am working with a colleague on another.
Long version: I took an early retirement from a fulltime/permanent deanship, and I am loving it. I now have the time to do things I want to do; when I want to do it. I am traveling all over the country giving seminars/speeches of various aspects of my profession. What is most exciting is that I was invited to serve as a Professor of Practice for Simmons College, teaching in their new PhD. Program in managerial leadership. Additionally, I teach for San Jose State University LIS’ executive MLIS program in managerial leadership. I am still sitting on several boards. I also continue doing research having co-authored two books last year and getting ready to work on another one.
My husband says that I am working as much as I did before, “the only difference is that she’s not getting paid the big salary!” Nonetheless, I love the fact that I am giving back to my profession.
Are you or have you been involved in library or other associations? Are you or have you been involved in committees, initiatives, special projects (in associations or at work)? What are/ were they? How did you first get involved?
Let me start with how I first got involved. I had no early mentor advising me how to get involved in ALA and CLA; there were no leadership development programs available at the time. (Be thankful that you are in the Emerging Leaders program!) I didn’t know about NMRT. I ran into a fellow MLS alumnae and she invited me to get involved in ACRL’s Community & Junior College Library Section. I met some Reforma folks, and they invited me to get involved in Reforma. At the same time, I became involved in the Colorado Library Association. The rest is history….
Once I learned the ropes of Reforma, ACRL, and ALA, I was very strategic about my service involvement. Working as a library director (community college) and dean (university), I tried to be involved in committee work, projects, and initiatives that would not only help me in my professional service career and research but also help my academic library/institution. That led to my serving as on the ACRL/CJCLS executive board, Reforma national president, and ACRL president.
Some selected committees/task forces I was involved in included:
ALA — Committee on Legislation, Chair; Presidential Task Force on the Spectrum Scholarship Program; Executive Board (Finance and Audit Committee, Endowment Trustees Committee, Public Relations Review); ALA Council (Committee on Committees, Executive Director Search Committee, Chair); American Libraries Editorial Advisory Board, Chair; President’s Special Advisory Committee on the Spectrum Program; Committee on Education, Chair; Nominating Committee, Chair; Public Information Office Advisory Committee; President’s Special Commission on Public Awareness.
ACRL — President; ACRL 2005 National Conference Committee Chair; ACRL 2001 National Conference Local Arrangements Committee, Co-Chair; aCRL Budget and Finance Committee; ACRL Professional Education Committee; C&RL News Editorial Board; ACRL Colorado Chapter, Chair; ACRL Appointments and Nominations Committee; Community & Junior College Library Section – Secretary, ,Executive Board; Nominations Committee, Chair.
Some of the first-time initiatives I was involved in included: ACRL’s Grassroots Advocacy Initiative/toolkit; ALA’s @ Your Library marketing project; ACRL’s Marketing “Train the Trainer” project; Reforma’s first National Conference.
Projects that I initiated as library dean included strategic planning, marketing initiatives, and academic library grassroots advocacy initiatives. (You can see the direct link between my professional service involvement and how I was able to bring that back to my libraries).
My committees at the university level were numerous and I chaired many of those committees. And, I was very involved in CLA.
What or who influenced you to become a librarian?
It started when I was a student worker in the college library I was attending. My manager encouraged me to take course for a school media/library minor. When I graduated, I served as a school librarian which motivated me to go for my MLS.
If you could have done anything in your career differently, what would that be and why?
I don’t know that I would do anything different in my career; I was very strategic in my career moves. However, personally, I would have taken better care of myself – leadership is not without stress, especially if you are a successful change agent.
Tell us from your own experience one leadership lesson that you have learned.
Walk the walk – do what you say you are going to do. People are very wise to using lip-service to advance oneself.
How do you recognize contributions of others in your library and in your community?
I always try to recognize people who contribute to the “organization” – whatever that organization might be. Give them credit for their leadership and successes; make sure other folks are aware of that. Recognition of folks goes a long way for any leader. It is also a sure sign of a secure individual.
What values (personal traits or characteristics) do you look for and admire in a leader?
Integrity, empowerment/inclusiveness, risk-taker/decision-maker.
What advice would you give to up and coming librarians?
Once you know what type of library career you want to commit to, be strategic in everything you do. Try to kill 2-3 birds with one stone — your choice of leadership activities should not only help you but your library and library work.
What do you think are the top three issues facing librarianship (positive or negative) that could change the course of things? If we should try to change that course, how should we go about it?
The greying of our profession — and whether or not we will be able to recruit and retain enough new librarians/library staff to continue the work of library services for all our users and serve as our emerging leaders.
Funding issues — the closing of school and public; and the status of librarians and library support staff – not being recognized and compensated for their contributions to providing access to information to all.
Infringements on intellectual freedom and privacy – these infringements affect our users and their ability to have free access to information. This has a chilling effect on our democratic society and what libraries are all about.
How can we change these three issues I have identified? Leadership development is critical for folks to work on these issues. Additionally, we all have to be advocates for our libraries no matter what level we are presently in. We need to be prepared to articulate the value of all of our libraries and the value of library employees.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned in your current position?
To relax more…
What are the top three things they don’t teach you in library school (or did not teach you in LS) that you think are critical?
1.Libraries/librarians in the political context of their environment.
2.How to be a successful library advocate.
3.Developing leadership skills.
Is there any one thing that every librarian should know?
Something I have lived my career by: “Once you lose your integrity, everything else is a piece of cake”…… Don’t every give up your integrity as you move up in your career or professional service development.