Diana Brawley Sussman

Experience: Director, Southern Illinois Talking Book Center, Carterville, IL, 2001-present; Library Assistant (youth services librarian), Minneapolis Public Library, Minneapolis, MN, 1999-2000.

Education: MLIS, Dominican University, River Forest, IL, 2001; BA in English/Creative Writing, Southern Illinois University, 1992.

Professional Activities: ILA member; Chair, Lobe Library Committee (a multi-state e-book project), 2003-present; Secretary, Midlands Committee of Librarians Serving the Blind and Physically Handicapped 2005-present; Planning Committee, South of 70 Southern Illinois Conference for Parents of Children with Visual Impairment, 2007-present; Shawnee Library System Strategic Planning Committee, 2007; Illinois State Library LSTA grant review committee, 2005; Thinking Outside the Borders International Leadership Institute participant, 2005; Co-Founder and Committee Chair, InfoEyes (national virtual reference service for the visually impaired), 2004-2005; Synergy: Illinois Library Leadership Initiative, 2002; various presentations and publications. Awards: Library of Congress National Library Service Network Library of the Year, awarded to the Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service and cooperating sub-regional libraries, including the Southern Illinois Talking Book Center, 2005; Recipient, Illinois Library Association Crosman Memorial Award, 2004.

Statement of Concern:
Many of my concerns were voiced by Michael Stephens in his keynote speech at the 2007 ILA Conference. After his enlightened speech about technology trends, user-centered service and serious commercial competition I heard one librarian turn to another and say, “Well, our patrons just aren’t ready for all that.” I wanted to say, “Your patrons? Or you? The patrons you serve? Or the ones you would serve if you were ready?” But I didn’t say that. I bit straight through my tongue and then when that healed up I ran (am running) for the ILA Board, because ILA encourages, espouses and embodies innovative librarianship. ILA advocates for the public, promotes excellence, prepares for the future! Our field is not just what we say it is; it’s what we make it. Librarians point to our star libraries and say, “Look! Libraries are thriving!” But the public points to whatever library they happen to live by and says, “Look! Libraries are…?” (well…depends on where they’re pointing). I can point to a library that just implemented full filtering because patrons were using sites like MySpace and eHarmony. Then again I can point to some great libraries in my area. However, there are other people who point furiously at them and say, “They said I can’t use the library!” because the untaxed/un-served issue baffles the public, and because we have not yet managed to—some say cannot manage to—solve that issue altogether. Librarians will always see stars when they look at libraries, but if libraries are to promote and support enlightened communities, then those stars must shine so brightly that every library is enlightened and every person in Illinois can see the light we see.

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