I am honored to have been one of the two people formally nominated by ALA as a presidential candidate. This is a time of challenge and opportunity. Downsizing in government and business has resulted in budget problems for all types of libraries. Library education is facing an uncertain future. Major technological advances have tested our ability to be flexible and innovative in ensuring library service to all and in combatting the scourge of illiteracy and the widening gap between the information-rich and the information-poor.

LEADERSHIP

ALA needs a leader who can respond to challenges because of her extensive knowledge and experience; who has creativity; who will champion information access for all; who will meet the challenge of literacy; who can use technology effectively to achieve ALA's goals; and who is committed to library service.

ALA needs a leader who is able to reach out to all constituencies; who can form effective partnerships with non-library and high-tech communities.

ALA needs a leader who is committed to serving all its members; who can represent all professional interests; and who can increase professional participation.

I can be that leader and I can and will meet the needs and aspirations of all of you.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In my career of more that thirty years, I have served as a public and academic librarian, teacher, speaker, consultant, researcher, library advocate, and innovator. I wrote the baseline document on citizens' information needs for the first White House Conference.

The author or editor of 26 books and more than 100 articles, I founded and edit Microcomputers for Information Management (Ablex), an international quarterly journal. I have received numerous awards including the LITA/Gaylord Award for Achievement in Library Information Technology (1990) and LITA/Hi Tech Award (1994).

My "The First Emperor of China" won the Cindy Award of Association of Visual Communicators in 1992 and the multimedia CD-ROM version was chosen as one of the 50 best CD-ROMs of 1994. My work as a teacher was recognized by the ASIS Outstanding Teacher Award (1983).

I have directed more than 80 baseline training institutes, here and abroad. I have offered keynote speeches in over 25 countries, and have served as consultant to many major organizations in over two dozen countries. I have ability and experience to work with all types of librarians, as demonstrated in my the training of 500 public and school librarians in Massachusetts last year.

VISION

My vision is of a free and open global information society that will provide complete information access and improved information services for everyone. My vision of ALA is of an association that reaches out to an increasing diversity of interests and deals with results of the accelerating changes occurring in our society because of information technology -- in the structure of the economy, in the nature of work, in education, and in recreation.

MISSION

Informed by the vision I have outlined, our mission should be to:

€ position our libraries for the new information age;
€ provide good education to new librarians and continuing education for present librarians;
€ give a top priority to information access for all;
€ ceaselessly advocate the value and the values of libraries with passion and political savvy;
€ campaign for more funding support to provide adequate library services to all, specifically to children and youth and to the disadvantaged;
€ establish effective partnerships with groups of all kinds, especially those in the high-tech industries;
€ promote the profession of librarianship;
€ encourage more cultural diversity in ALA and in society;
€ increase membership participation in, and improve the management structure of, ALA.

We are at a crossroads and desperately need new directions and actions. I have ideas and can translate them into action. I can get things accomplished for all of us. If you want the vision turned into concrete action; if you want a President who can represent you effectively nationally and internationally with distinction and authority; and if you want ALA to be a vibrant part of the new society that is being born--then please support me vigorously. With your help and your confidence in me, we can work together to achieve great things!

Thank you for this opportunity.