Amy E. Falasz-Peterson

Experience: Director, Fondulac District Library (East Peoria), July 1, 2005-Present. Assistant Director, Fondulac District Library (East Peoria), October 2004-June 30, 2005. Assistant Director/Head of Reference, Galesburg Public Library, January 2000-September 2004

Education: MA, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, Library & Information Studies, May 2000. BA, Knox College, Galesburg, IL, Political Science, June 1997.

Professional Activities: Inaugural class (2002) of Synergy . ILA Member 2003- present. ILA Membership Committee, 2005-present, current co-chair. Advisory Council, Alliance Library System, 2006-present (serve on 15 member committee to provide direction to the director of the Alliance Library System). Vice Chair, Alliance Library System User Group, (Serve as Vice Chair for the group that oversees the library system's cooperative catalog); Served on committee to select the new ILS. PLA Member. ALA Member. Presentations on disaster preparedness; being a librarian; Published an article in the ILA Reporter on adult programming in public libraries.

Statement of Concern:
Libraries exist to serve their community, whether it is a city, a school or a private corporation. In my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work in communities with different interests and needs. I’ve learned that what worked at one place may not translate into the other. Librarians need to keep their constituents’ needs in mind as they partner with other libraries and community groups. Librarians do a disservice to themselves by not taking the time to reach out beyond the four walls of their building to get to know their residents. I believe that a library should be visible in the community.

We need to look beyond the building, beyond our notion that “if we have it, they will come” and beyond our personal philosophies to take that first step to reach out to the community. This is how we will remain relevant for years to come.

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