The 2025 ALA Conference was an odd one for me. As the incoming President-Elect of Core, my dance card was full of sessions I was obliged to attend, so I went to very few traditional presentations. Rather than getting caught up on the latest developments in cataloging and technical services, I learned more about the breadth of Core’s activities as a Division, how it fits into ALA, and the obligations I will have over the next 3 years of my term.
One of my obligations was to attend the ALA Leadership Development Luncheon, which was for Division and Roundtable leaders and ALA Committee Chairs. Each attendee was given a handy copy of “Robert’s Rules of Order” and there was a panel discussion about leadership in ALA. The panel included past ALA President Julius Jefferson, a former ALA Treasurer, and two former ALA Committee Chairs. I was pleased that the advice they gave about leading within a volunteer organization like ALA wasn’t new to me, but fit very nicely with my own philosophy. Their advice included:
- Delegate – People on committees join them because they expect to do something. Let them!
- Get to know the members of your group as people – When there are tough decisions to be made or crises to deal with, the bonds of trust you have forged with your team will help you get through.
- Don’t monopolize the conversation – As a leader, your job is to facilitate discussion, not dominate it. Give everyone on the group a chance to contribute. You don’t have to respond to everything.
My other obligations included attending three different award ceremonies. Because Core was founded by merging three different divisions, we have a lot of awards that cover a lot of different areas. I attended the Core Awards and President’s Program, where I got to see Lauren be awarded a Core President’s Citation (yay!), as well as the awarding of the Margaret Mann Citation, the most prestigious award in US cataloging circles, to Adam Schiff of the University of Washington. I also attended the joint ALA/AIA (American Institute of Architects) Awards Breakfast, which recognizes outstanding library architectural design. In addition, I attended the John Cotton Dana Awards, which are given to libraries for excellence in communications and marketing. My favorite among the recipients was the Worcester Public Library in Massachusetts for their March Meowness program, where patrons could have their fines forgiven if they submitted a picture of a cat (it didn’t have to be their own cat). I’m not a cat guy, but even I had to admit that’s a cute idea!
I did manage to attend a few programs and meetings of my own choice, but I didn’t focus on cataloging and technical services related programs like I normally do. I figured as incoming President-Elect of Core that I should find out a little more about the Division as a whole. I’m very familiar with the Metadata & Collections Section, which focuses on technical services, but Core also has Sections for management, technology, building and operations, and preservation. So, to find out more about what Core does, I attended a program called “Leading Passionate, Engaged Staff Through Uncertain Political Times” (which was focused on public libraries), a meeting of the Library Facilities and Interiors Interest Group, and a meeting of the Core International Relations Committee. I still have a lot of learning to do, but it did broaden my perspective on what Core does.
The biggest event for Core at the conference was the Gala, celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Division. Well, 5th anniversary in this form, the 3 Divisions that merged to form Core are far older. The slideshow at the Gala included slides on the history of each of the 3 previous Divisions, and I noticed that the roots of ALCTS go back to the foundation of the Cataloging Section of ALA in 1900. So it was Core’s 5th anniversary, but also, in a sense, our 125th.
After the Gala, I got roped into the picture below by Lacie Griffin, who was in a photo pose-off battle with her sons. That’s Lacie, Tom Ferren, and me attempting the Charlie’s Angels pose.
5 Comments on ‘Steve at the 2025 ALA Conference in Philadelphia’
Cheers to widening our horizons at this ALA Annual Conference! You worked hard and it will pay off during your term on the Core Board!
All the best as president-elect (and later) president of Core, Steve! Great report!
Steve, great post, but honestly, I’m here for that Charlie’s Angels photo! Well done!
Great write up, and great use of this conference, Steve! The creation and establishment of Core has been great to watch, and I’m glad you’ll be at the helm!
Congrats, again, on your election, Steve! You certainly made the most of your new responsibilities during this conference which speaks highly of your commitment.