I will be stepping down as Past Past Coordinator this year after six years of service on the Ohio Library Council Reference and Information Services Division (… catch breath …) Action Council. I’ve actually been filling the position of Past Coordinator this year since the 2011 Coordinator had to leave the committee due to taking another job with different responsibilities. (We wish her all the best!). I was Past Coordinator in 2011, but her departure meant that there would be a vacancy for that position in 2012. I was encouraged by my fellow RISDers to fill that post one last time. Now, at the end of 2012, I ride off into the sunset. Before that, I’d like to share what a rewarding experience it’s been and some things I’ve learned.
This all began when I was elected the last Assistant Coordinator chosen by popular ballot. I use “chosen” in the broadest terms possible since I ran unopposed in that election. After that election, OLC made the decision to simply have members of the Action Councils elected and then let those individuals within each committee choose the leadership roles from among themselves. I was recruited by the out-going Coordinator of RISD, and my boss at the time encouraged me to run.
My involvement with OLC was (and continues to be) a perspective-widening experience. However, above all else, it was an opportunity to meet colleagues from around Ohio that were going through some of the same issues and concerns about patrons, reference service, etc., etc. that I was experiencing. Turns out the grass is not always (or is seldom) greener on the other side of the fence. But even more importantly, others have valuable insights on how they’ve dealt with these same issues and concerns and are willing to share that insight. It is very easy to get so involved with your work that you forget that you’re part of a much larger group of professionals. And those professionals can often turn into friends. Some might call that networking, but that sounds so cold and clinical. However, if you think of it as simply meeting people, talking to people, finding people with similar interests, building a “network” of people you can rely on and bounce ideas off of, it becomes a very valuable and enjoyable endeavor. Over the years, I’ve made a number of friends through OLC that I would have otherwise probably not have even had the opportunity to meet. I would list some but I know I’d forget names, and, in any case, I value them all!
Involvement in OLC has also given me a chance to hone presentation, leadership, and project management skills. There’s nothing that trains one to do things like this like actually doing it. Making agendas for meetings, coordinating with colleagues spread across the state, keeping projects on track, etc., have been very valuable and carry over into one’s daily work as well. OLC provides a great avenue for these professional development areas.
My experience with OLC also gave me the confidence to try my hand at getting involved on the national level with ALA. I started out slowly as a member of the RUSA RSS/MARS Virtual Reference Services Committee, but I’m currently serving as RSS Co-chair of the Virtual Reference Services Committee, a member of the RSS Organization & Planning Committee, and as a member of the RUSA Annual Conference Program Coordinating Committee. Seeing ALA from the inside is fascinating!
For those thinking about getting involved with your professional associations on a local, regional, statewide, or national level, I highly recommend it. It can be challenging but also very rewarding. I will miss the regular meetings of the RISD but am looking forward to continuing to work with the Action Council members and OLC as a civilian (and continuing member of OLC). I’m looking forward to their on-going projects and wish them all the best! It’s been a long, strange trip at times but always a great ride.
– Don Boozer, KnowItNow Coordinator and RISD Coordinator Emeritus
OLC - RISD 