Presentation on ALA's state ecosystem initiative, featuring the collaborative efforts of the Maryland Library Association and Maryland Association of School Librarians.

1. Welcome!

2. Developing the Ecosystem in Maryland, first steps
Presenters:
Denise Davis,
President, Maryland Library Association,
Director Emerita, Cecil County Public Library
Emmanuel Faulkner,
President, Maryland Association of School Librarians,
Librarian, The Historic Samuel Taylor-Coleridge Elementary School

3. MASL alerted on January 24, 2018
● Former Maryland Assn of School Librarians president alerted MASL Executive
Board to imminent budgetary threat to 5 school librarian positions in Talbot
County, MD
● MASL Executive Board contacted Megan Cusick (ALA OLA), Steven Yates
(AASL President), Sylvia Norton (AASL Executive Director);
● Letter of support from ALA President Jim Neal and AASL President Steven
Yates would be developed via Megan
● MASL Executives planned to attend the Maryland Library Association’s (MLA)
Legislative Day on Feb 20, to reach out to MLA for support
● MASL Website upgraded with a more prominent Advocacy tab

4. MASL action plan, cont’d
● MASL contacted Talbot School Superintendent February 4 and learned librarian
positions in her proposed budget, but unless a requested increase in county
funding was granted, resulting cut of $2.4 million would endanger the librarians’
positions.
● MASL Executive Board agreed Talbot County school librarians should not have
to defend their own positions before the school and county—MASL would do so
● Laura Hicks alerted MASL Executive Board that ALA planned a Feb 11 “State
Ecosystem” meeting during Midwinter where MASL and MLA could confer.
● Plans were fluid as the MASL Executive Board travelled to Midwinter--who
would attend February 21 Talbot County Board of Ed meeting?

5. At Midwinter Ecosystem Meeting:
MASL and MLA leadership are well represented
● Mary Baykan, Legislative Officer heads MLA Legislative Panel
● Margaret Carty, MLA Executive Director
● Denise Davis, MLA President
● Emmanuel Faulkner, MASL President
● Laura Hicks, incoming Education Specialist, MD State Dept. of Education
Instructional Technology & School Library Media Program
● Brittany Hulme-Tignor, MASL Incoming-president
● Marcia Porter, MASL Delegate
● Joe Thompson, MLA Vice President/Incoming President

6. Developing the Ecosystem at Midwinter
February 11, 2018, ALA State Ecosystem
● Introductions and beginning of building relationships
● Preliminary discussions and plans for future collaboration
We knew there was once a relationship between the two organizations and having us
sitting at the same table we were able to talk and see what a new relationship could look
like and how we can assist each other on various issues.

7. Then, post Denver, jump start!
● On Thursday, Feb 15, Megan Cusick reached out to MASL and MLA
leadership via email
● Megan asked for help: ALA had a strong letter of support from Jim Neal and
Steven Yates and she was trying to find a local advocate to read it at the Feb 21
Talbot School Board meeting
● Challenge: President’s day weekend and MLA’s Maryland Library Day in
Annapolis between Feb 15th and the 21st

8. Denver relationships proved to be critical
● Denise, MLA President, consulted MLA team, reached out to Jay Bansbach,
former Education Specialist at MSDE and member of MLA Leg Panel who has
recently retired
● Jay had conflict on night of meeting, recommended Brittany Hulme-Tignor or
Marcia Porter
● Brittany Hulme-Tignor, incoming MASL President, responded to email from
Jay and emailed update on MASL plans: Emmanuel Faulkner, MASL
President, was planning to attend the meeting to read the MASL letter to the
Talbot Co. Board of Ed in 3 minutes allotted
● But, Brittany had work conflict and could not be there to be read the ALA
letter
● With email responses lagging due to holiday weekend, Denise sent Marcia
LinkedIn request, Marcia responded and agreed to read ALA letter on Feb 21!

9. MLA adds its Letter for Talbot School Librarians
● Denise prepared MLA letter of support for Talbot County school
librarians, which she shared with Jay Bansbach for review
● Denise overnighted the MLA letter to Talbot County Superintendent of
Schools and the Talbot Board of Education; MLA letter reached them on
the morning of the Feb 21 meeting
● Emmanuel and Marcia testified at Talbot Board of Education meeting,
were able to read ALA and MASL letters, answered questions, received
thanks from community

10. Critical advocacy continues in May
● On May 5, Laura Hicks, Emmanuel, and Brittany attended budget meeting
and letters from ALA, MASL, and MLA were read to the Talbot County
Council and put into the record.
● Emmanuel was recognized as “the Library Guy.” They were all greeted by
other attendees and they also answered questions from community members,
teachers, and district officials.
● The Talbot school librarian who initially reached out for help was also in
attendance and also spoke up for the importance of the proposed budget.

11. The individual Talbot school librarian was not
alone…
● The individual school librarian was not alone, and should never be
alone in speaking out for their position, and for what is best for the
students and the community.
● MASL, AASL, ALA and MLA collaborated and stood with Talbot’s
school librarians

12. In June we learned:
Talbot County’s five school librarian positions
are included in the new BOE budget!

13. Summary of insights gleaned in first steps
● School and public librarians paths do not routinely cross in MD; we may not
fully understand each other’s work and advocacy challenges
● Efficient proactive strategies are needed
● Relationships are necessary to successful collaboration; already existing
common goals and values offer the basis of building productive relationships
● Developing existing structures/communication tools –including social media
links, cell numbers, etc. offers the potential for fast and efficient collaboration
● Proactive collaborative plans for advocacy and for marketing of librarians’
value to communities would support all librarians in Maryland

14. Steps to support future collaboration
MLA’s Legislative Panel coordinates advocacy at state and federal level
● In February, Laura Hicks now attends and participates in MLA Legislative
Panel meetings
Conferences: Laura Hicks and incoming MLA President Joe Thompson are
exploring the idea of MLA and MASL having a presence at each other’s
Conferences
Further discussions and actions are being planned by current and incoming
Maryland library community leadership

15. Advocacy has powerful impact!
Collaborative advocacy adds power!
The future is collaborative!

16. STATE NAME
We’re proud of… Our goal is…
One takeaway from this
experience is…
In the upcoming year, our
state’s contacts for the
Ecosystem initiative are…..
Group Activity

17. Looking Forward
•Extending the conversation
•Online community for discussion and sharing
•Midwinter event
Thank you!

18. Sylvia Knight Norton
Executive Director
snorton@ala.org
800.545.2433 x4388
Allison Cline
Deputy Executive Director
acline@ala.org
800.545.2433 x4385
Office for Library Advocacy
Marci Merola
Director
mmerola@ala.org
800.545.2433 x2431
Megan Murray Cusick
Grassroots Specialist
mcusick@ala.org
800.545.2433 x2423
Joaquin Falcon
Communications Specialist
jfalcon@ala.org
800.545.2433 x2428
Chapter Relations Office
Michael Dowling
Director
mdowling@ala.org
800.545.2433 x3200
Don Wood
Program Officer
dwood@ala.org
800.545.2433 x2429
AASL & ALA Contacts