Barbara Stripling Email & Phone Number

Throughout my library career, I have looked into the faces of young people and been nourished by their sense of wonder and enthusiasm for learning. As a librarian, I have served these young people by providing library programs and services that are their right: an environment conducive to learning; equitable access to resources that reflect their diverse needs and interests; effective instruction that builds independent learning skills; and opportunities for sharing with others. As director of school library programs in New York City, with 1.1 million students and 1700 schools, I used my leadership skills to focus on building a nurturing and supportive community and strong guidance for all the school librarians. Together, we established effective school library programs to prepare our students to be successful in school and beyond. As Assistant Professor of Practice at Syracuse University, I have the opportunity to impact the profession of librarianship through my teaching, research, and writing.As the 2013-2014 President of the American Library Association, I served ALA members in all types of libraries by championing intellectual freedom, privacy, advocacy for all types of libraries, public funding for libraries, legislative action, equitable access to information, and community-building and civic engagement through libraries.Libraries are on the cusp of greatness. We must seize the moment by re-defining ourselves and capturing the exciting possibilities offered by technology and social media; the explosion of information; and the challenges of maintaining a strong democracy while nourishing the expression of diverse viewpoints. Librarians must be instrumental in leading the transformation of libraries, and in that process, we will transform our communities. Specialties: Library management, professional leadership, inquiry, information literacy, primary sources, empathy, teaching, professional development, libraries, intellectual freedom

Listed skills include Public Schools and Education.