Carolyn Ciesla, Elmhurst University
Statement of Concern
I have worked in Illinois libraries for over 15 years, the entirety of my library career. In that time, I have digitized and cataloged historic international newspaper collections, helped teens find the perfect scary novel, answered too many questions about James Patterson, and taught college students how to find resources to answer their research questions. Later, I had the opportunity to move into a leadership position, and for the past 7 years, I’ve been fortunate to lead two academic libraries – one through a pandemic and one through substantial staffing and culture changes. Every single one of these experiences have made me the librarian I am today, and forged my belief that Illinois libraries are vital, necessary, and as varied as the people who work in them.
Libraries are in the midst of now-familiar battles over their buildings, their collections, and their employees. In the midst of these challenges, many library workers have faced threats, harassment, and violence in the very spaces they work so hard to keep safe and open in order to serve their community. Unfortunately, I’m afraid that we are only seeing the beginning of these efforts. We know what form those threats have taken so far, but we can’t predict what is coming. What we do know, however, is that we all – public, academic, school, and special librarians – are facing the same primary challenge, a challenge not against books but against ideas and information. These threats are designed to suppress the invisible, the marginalized, and the vulnerable. If elected ILA Vice President/President-elect, my primary objective will be advocacy. At its most basic meaning, to advocate means to support, and that’s what I want to do – support those library missions that are being challenged, support the populations who need libraries, and most importantly, support library workers.
These challenges brought to our libraries’ steps highlight larger issues as well, namely the diversity of our field. Since taking on a leadership role, one of my goals has been to increase the number of BIPOC leaders in the field by supporting the success of new and current graduate students. I also believe that work extends to highlighting the current diversity in the field, and as a Latina, it's important to me to be visible as a leader and as a successful librarian.
I’m so proud to be an Illinois librarian, and I believe in ILA’s mission of leadership, advocacy, and partnership – standing together makes us stronger. I would love to work with ILA and its membership to continue to bring libraries together, to support our well-being, and to ensure Illinois libraries remain exemplary.
Experience
A.C. Buehler Library, Elmhurst University
Director, 2021-Present
Prairie State College Library
Dean, Learning Resources & Assessment 2017-2021
Instructional Services Librarian & Associate Professor 2013-2016
Homewood Public Library
Library and Web Services Librarian 2011-2013
New Lenox Public Library
Teen and Adult Librarian 2010-2011
Center for Research Libraries
Program Coordinator, International Coalition on Newspapers (ICON) 2008-2010
Education
MLIS, San Jose State University, 2010
BA Creative Writing, University of Arizona, 1999
Professional Memberships and Activities
Chicagoland Unconference (CLU)
Co-founder and Partner 2012-2013
Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI)
Governing Directors Group (2018-Present)
DEI Task Force (2021-Present)
Illinois Association for College and Research Libraries (IACRL)
President (2017-2018)
Vice-President/President-Elect (2016-2017)
Conference Planning Committee (2015-2016)
Managing Editor, Communications Committee (2014-2016)
Illinois Library Association
Member (2013-Present)
LIBRAS Consortium
Secretary (2022-Present)
Directors Group (2021-Present)
Library Administrators Conference of Northern Illinois (LACONI)
Technology Section (2011-2013)
Network of Illinois Learning Resource Centers (NILRC)
Professional Development Committee (2019-2020)
RAILS BIPOC Mentorship Program
Mentor (2023)
South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium (SMHEC)
Editorial Board Member, SMHEC Journal (2020-2021)
Library Group Chair (2020-2021)
Library Group (2018-2021)
Summer Scares
Program Committee (2019-Present)
iREAD Summer Reading Programs
Latest Library JobLine Listings
