My ALSC Board Lessons: Growth, Service and Leadership

For the past three years, I served as the new-to-ALSC Board Member. It was perhaps the most humbling, amazing, and unexpected experience of my professional career. Looking ahead to the transition of new Board members at ALA in Philadelphia, I’m incredibly grateful. Today, I’m sharing a few lessons from my Board tenure.

Lesson #1: Step out of your comfort zone.

It may sound cliché, but a willingness to try something new started all my ALSC adventures. When I stood for election, the imposter syndrome was intense. Did I have anything to offer the Board? While starting before you feel ready is scary, the opportunities it brings may surprise you. When others encourage or ask you to serve, trust what they see. Instead of questioning your value, embrace it. Then, think about what you want to accomplish personally and professionally. Look for stretches within your learning zone where you can grow without overwhelming discomfort. That gentle stretch teaches so many new things.

Lesson #2: Explore every opportunity.

First, collect more information. Without knowing what an opportunity entails, it’s hard to determine whether it matches your interests, abilities, and capacity. Then, start exploring. Attend open meetings or jump into conference sessions. Intentionally explore each role and work product to learn more. For example, during my first year on the Board, I attended every possible award session, budget meeting, executive team meeting, and ALSC-sponsored conference session to learn more. I got a comprehensive overview of the work happening. From there, I supplemented with committee reports and questions.

Lesson #3: Ask questions often.

When I joined the ALSC Board, I realized we use numerous acronyms. In addition, knowledge transfers from one group to the next. To better understand our work, I asked many questions to many different people. Attending other meetings and sessions was helpful, but it was equally important to ask for clarification at that moment. Asking ensures you get the information you need when you need it. In addition, others may have the same questions you do, coupled with the same hesitation to ask. Could your questions empower others? The real power of questions is how they encourage thoughtfulness in others. Your questions and raised points can inspire new trains of thought or new interpretations.

Lesson #4: Embrace new perspectives, ideas, and information.

One of my biggest joys in Board work is learning from the unique experiences and perspectives of the phenomenal individuals serving throughout ALSC. We focus on knowledge-based decision-making, which means we examine problems from as many angles as possible to ensure informed decisions around the organization’s best interests. Further, we trust what each person brings to the table. Therefore, we honestly share so we do better. While we come to discussions with our opinions, we may not leave the conversation with the same opinions. The willingness to change is imperative. Challenge yourself to think about things in new ways, and you’ll gain a broader lens to view and solve problems.

Lesson #5: Know and share your value.

When nominated or elected, whether for the ALSC Board, a committee, or even a task force, trust that you are part of the team for a reason. You have a unique perspective and insights that no other person can bring in quite the same way. Further, sharing helps us create an organization that’s responsive to the needs of all its members. While I can share my experiences in a moderately sized library system and a single-branch location, I can’t speak to the needs of rural libraries or large systems. I can share my experiences with organizations that offer varying support for professional development. However, I can’t speak to the challenges or biases others experience. It’s not your job to be the voice of everyone, but it is your job to bring your voice. Without it, important considerations and knowledge bases are missing.

Bonus Lesson: Dream big.

As I say goodbye to this phase of service with ALSC, I know it’s not an end, but a beginning. When I joined ALSC, I couldn’t imagine serving in any capacity. Today, I’ve served as a committee member, a committee chair, and an ALSC Board member. My next step is serving as a Priority Group Consultant, a role I felt was far beyond my reach a few years ago. Don’t limit the opportunities you explore. Be open to the journey and the great places it takes you.

No matter where ALSC goes in the years to come, I’m confident in the organization’s value, membership, and ability to impact lives and communities. I hope you’ll join me in this adventure. For tips on building professional confidence through ALSC, check out this post. What lessons have you learned from your involvement with ALSC?

This post addresses ALSC Core Competency #7: Professionalism and Professional Development. All photos provided by Jaime Eastman, ALSC member.

Jaime Eastman is a senior Public Services Librarian and Early Learning Coordinator at the Harrington Library, one of the Plano (Texas) Public Library locations. She’s currently serving as a member of the ALSC Board of Directors. Jaime is also working on at least two ambitious cross-stitch projects, dreaming of future travel plans, and reading far too many books. As a child, she wanted to grow up to be an author. Writing for the blog and publishing with Children and Libraries feels like a good start, and she regrets nothing about her adult decision to be a librarian doing storytimes, who didn’t have to grow up too much.

The post My ALSC Board Lessons: Growth, Service and Leadership appeared first on ALSC Blog.

 For the past three years, I served as the new-to-ALSC Board Member. It was perhaps the most humbling, amazing, and unexpected experience of my professional career. Looking ahead to the transition of new Board members at ALA in Philadelphia, I’m incredibly grateful. Today, I’m sharing a few lessons from my Board tenure. Lesson #1: Step out of your comfort zone. It may sound cliché, but a willingness to try something new started all my ALSC adventures. When I stood for election, the imposter syndrome was intense. Did I have anything to offer the Board? While starting before you feel ready is scary, the opportunities it brings may surprise you. When others encourage or ask you to serve, trust what they see. Instead of questioning your value, embrace it. Then, think about what you want to accomplish personally and professionally. Look for stretches within your learning zone where you can grow…
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