BCALA 2021 – 2023 Executive Board Candidates

Wanda Brown

Wanda Kay Brown is the director of library services at the C. G. O’Kelly Library at Winston-Salem State University. (WSSU) Prior to her appointment, she served as the Associate Dean of Wake Forest University’s Z. Smith Reynolds Library. Brown has spent some 40 years in the profession. Along the way she has focused on being “professionally active” in state and national library organizations. In June of 2019 she assumed the role of President for the American Library Association (ALA). As ALA president, Brown was the chief elected officer for the largest library association in the world. Brown has held numerous positions with the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) including service as treasurer (2016-2018) and service as president (2006-08), treasurer (1992-96) and two terms as an Executive Board member (2001-03, 2014-16). She was the 2011-13 president of the North Carolina Library Association and has held various other positions with NCLA, including treasurer (1991-98) and the 2005-09 chair of the Finance Committee. An ALA member for 30+ years, Brown is an active member of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA). She has held multiple leadership positions within each division. She is the 2015 recipient of the DEMCO/ALA Black Caucus Award for Excellence, the 2013 BCALA Leadership Award, and the 2012 BCALA Distinguished Service Award. In 2009, she received University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Kovacs Award for Outstanding Alumni Achievement, and in 2013, UNCG awarded Brown with the School of Education Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award. Brown holds a BA in English, with a minor in psychology from Winston-Salem State University, and an MLS from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

• Please list all BCALA Involvemen: Member, Treasurer, Board Member, President
• Professional Activities & Extra-Curricular: American Library Association -Past President BCALA – Past President
• Accomplishments/Awards & Honors:BCALA – Distinguished Services Award
• What skills/experiences make you a good candidate to be a board member of BCALA? I have had a long history of care and support for BCALA.

Name 3 specific things you see that need to be done to strengthen the Black Caucus?

• Idea 1: Increase the membership.
• Idea 2: Demonstrate the value of librarianship.
• Idea 3: Advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion and retention of minorities to the profession.

Ana Ndumu

I entered the library field in 2000, and worked for several years as an HBCU librarian. Currently, I am an Assistant Professor and my research and teaching center on immigrant information justice and promoting racial representation within the LIS field. I explore the role of libraries and information in the lives of Black diasporic immigrants and the contributions of HBCUs to LIS education and practice. Before becoming a professor, I was a President’s Postdoctoral Fellow as well as a Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) Futures Fellow.

Please list all BCALA Involvement

2019-2021 BCALA Executive Board member, Co-Chair Professional Development Committee Co-Principal Investigator, Breaking Barriers iBlackCaucus Grant Co-Editor, Black Librarians in America: Resistance, Resilience, and Reawakening

Professional Activities & Extra-Curricular

• Chair, 2020-2021 ALA ODLOS Serving Refugees, Immigrants, and Displaced Persons Sub-Committee, 2020-2021
• Advisory Committee member, ALA Office of Diversity, Outreach, and Literacy Service (ODLOS), 2020-2021
• Advisory Board member, Hampton University “Leading the Charge” IMLS Grant Project, 2020-2022
• Advisory Board member, Welcoming America “Welcoming Standard” 2020-2021
• Member, REFORMA Education Committee member

2018-2021 Ndumu, A. & Chancellor, R. (2021). DuMont, 35 Years Later: HBCUs, LIS education, and institutional discrimination. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 62(2). (forthcoming) Ndumu, A. (2021). Shifts: How changes in the U.S. Black population impact racial inclusion and representation in LIS education. Journal for Education in Library and Information Science, 62(2). (forthcoming) Ndumu, A. & Rollins, T. (2020). Envisioning reciprocal and sustainable HBCU-LIS pipeline partnerships: What HBCU librarians have to say. Information and Learning Sciences, 121(¾): 155-174. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-05-2019-0038 Ndumu. A. (2020). Disrupting digital divide narratives: Exploring the U.S. Black diasporic immigrant context. Open Information Science, 4(1), 75-84. https://doi.org/10.1515/opis-2020-0006

Accomplishments/Awards & Honors

I have been fortunate to receive several professional and funding awards.

What skills/experiences make you a good candidate to be a board member of BCALA?

I believe that I can best serve by helping BCALA leaders build organizational capacity. Communication and collaboration are my strengths. There are wonderful opportunities for BCALA to strengthen its infrastructure, find additional revenue streams, and establish powerful alliances.

Name 3 specific things you see that need to be done to strengthen the Black Caucus?

• Idea 1: BCALA can be strengthened through coalition-building with the HBCU Library Alliance, African American Medical Librarians Alliance (AAMLA), the Black Caucus of the American Association of Library Librarians (AALL) , and other Black-centered LIS groups.
• Idea 2: There is also room for BCALA chapters of both Black Lives Matters and NAACP in order for Black library workers to be better equipped when fighting anti-Black racism or spearheading conflict resolution throughout their library systems or municipalities.
• Idea 3: BCALA can establish a stronger pathway to organizational and national leadership through a formal mentorship program and leadership institute, which would be separate but complementary.

Yolanda Gleason

Yolanda Renee Gleason is the Borough Director for the 52 locations in Staten Island and Manhattan at the New York Public Library. A lifelong New Yorker, she received her Masters in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute. Yolanda has been a librarian for 20 years and during her tenure at the New York Public library, she has been a children’s librarian, a branch librarian, and a Network Associate Director. She is a member of the American Library Association, the Public Library Association, and is a life member of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association serving on the Dr. E.J. Josey scholarship committee. Yolanda is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Professional Activities & Extra-Curricular

Member of ALA, PLA, EMIERT Roundtable, Life Member of BCALA, member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.

Accomplishments/Awards & Honors

Winner of New York Times Librarian Award, November 2005

What skills/experiences make you a good candidate to be a board member of BCALA?

As a public library administrator for the past 10 years, I bring a wealth of experience in the creation and implementation of policies. I am also skilled at cooperation, collaboration, communication, and influence when working with others cross organizationally to accomplish goals. In my former role as Associate Director for Staten Island branches, I was asked to lead a policy effort to create and implement organization-wide child safety guidelines. I organized a cross-organizational task force and worked with library consultants to create and implement guidelines that are currently in place at my library. I am also currently the lead for our phase 2 (currently implemented) and phase 3 branch library plans which guide staff on how we will continue to phase in library services to the communities we serve in a safe way. As the Borough Director for Staten Island and Manhattan, I set goals and objectives for all of my 52 locations, oversee budgets, and lead a team of 4 Associate Directors. I believe that my can-do attitude, attention to detail, strong understanding of policies and budgets, and most importantly, my willingness to listen to others and be of service will be an asset to the board of BCALA.

Name 3 specific things you see that need to be done to strengthen the Black Caucus?

• Idea 1: I believe BCALA needs to continue to reach out to our new librarians and encourage them to join BCALA. They bring a level of progressive thought and creativity that will not only allow BCALA to thrive and grow but continue to allow our organization to meet the challenge of change.
• Idea 2: Setting up mentorship within the caucus. There is a wealth of experience and knowledge within BCALA. People who are trailblazers in their field. Mentorship from experienced librarians of color can at times be that lifeline that other librarians of color in the field need to thrive in their roles.
• Idea 3: BCALA needs to ensure that they encourage, support, and push forth candidates for positions in the greater ALA organization. Doing so will allow us to have the necessary seats at tables and in conversations that will give a greater voice to librarians of color. There is power in numbers when they are in the seats of influence.

Tracey Overbey

My name is Tracey Overbey, I started working in libraries as a youth librarian at Cleveland Public Library 15 years ago. I recently became an Assistant Professor in an academic library at The Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio. My area of research is aimed at social justice issues, such as food deserts in urban communities, and alternative nature base solutions for at risk youth. I am currently conducting a qualitative study on the relationship between African/African American students and their experiences with libraries

Please list all BCALA Involvement

I helped with registration at the Librarian of Color conference in New Mexico. I am new to academic librarianship. I am currently striving to provide service within the profession.

Professional Activities & Extra-Curricular

Appointed member, Association of College and Research Libraries, Education and Behavioral Sciences Section, Education Committee, 2018-2020. Appointed member, Association of College and Research Libraries, Education and Behavioral Sciences Section, Research Committee, 2018-2020. Appointed member, Association of College and Research Libraries, Anthropology and Social Sciences Section, Sociology Librarians Discussion Group, 2018-2020.

Coordinated online conference programs for Social Science librarians. Appointed member, Association of College and Research Libraries, Politics, Policy and International Relations Section, Communication and Publications Committee, 2016-2018.

Social Media Coordinator.

Appointed member, Association of College and Research Libraries, Politics, Policy and International Relations Section, Executive Committee, 2016-2018.
Appointed member, Association of College and Research Libraries, Law and Political Science Section, Communication and Publications Committee, 2016-2017.
Appointed member, Association of College and Research Libraries, Law and Political Science Section, Executive Committee, 2016-2017.

Publications

Overbey, T. (2019). Food Deserts, Libraries, and Urban Communities: What Is the Connection? Public Library Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2019.1591156 Folk, A.L., Overbey, T. (2019-4-1). “Narratives of (dis)engagement: Exploring Black/African-American undergraduate students’ experiences with libraries”. Paper presented at ACRL 2019, Chicago, IL. http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/conferences/confsandpreconfs/2019/NarrativesofDisEngagement.pdf Overbey, T. A., Dotson, D. S., & Labadie, M. M. (2017). Public libraries and higher education combining efforts to create quality stem children’s programs. Public Library Quarterly, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2017.1391032 Allen-Overbey, Tracey and Dotson, Daniel and Meyers LaBadie, Molly (2016) Bringing Science to the Children: Cooperation between Academic and Public Libraries IFLA Library. Paper presented http://library.ifla.org/id/eprint/1360

Accomplishments/Awards & Honors

The Ohio State University Libraries funded my grant proposal to start a Seed Library Project. I was awarded (USD $1,500 Total Award). Seed Distribution at the library for students and faculty who live in food desert communities. P.I. Tracey Overbey. Co-I Ingrid Adams The Ohio State University funded a study I’m involved in that looks at African/African American students’ experiences with libraries before and during college. (USD $2,200 Total Award) Research Grant. PI: Folk, Amanda Co-I: Overbey, Tracey I won an Innovation Grant (USD $5000) to begin a STEM program for urban youth at the library. I also published a peer reviewed paper on the outcome. I won an “Standing O Vation” award for implementing the Seed library first ever at The Ohio State University Libraries in 2020.

What skills/experiences make you a good candidate to be a board member of BCALA?

I am qualified and experienced to bring solutions of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) to BCALA. I will achieve this by working together with other administrators to support creative platforms/trainings that showcase the many contributions that marginalized people have made to the world and society. I will collaborate and work with other board members and divisional members within BCALA, to bring state of the art programming and support for African American librarians. We are in the fight for change, more so now we need to engage and empower our Black librarian for broader impacts. With my personality and great interpersonal skills, I strive to enrich our librarians and their users’ experiences. I will model excellence on how BCALA invest in the people.

Name 3 specific things you see that need to be done to strengthen the Black Caucus?

• Idea 1: Bring more evidence that librarianship started in Ancient African according to Zulu, Itibari M. ( This can help balance the arrogance that we see going on in society towards African American citizens) Bring more little known Black history facts about our existence, at conference, trainings etc.
• Idea 2: Reach out to more HBCU’s to recruit more African American librarians. Attend High School career days, to showcase how librarianship started in Africa, and to help with the pipeline in the profession for more librarians of color. Share how more than ever its needed to help our people understand the proper way of research, citation management etc.
• Idea 3: Advocate for more libraries to showcase paintings of the contributions of African American librarians, scientist, inventors etc to be displayed within these libraries. Have statues on campus, of great Black people contributions to society. Our students need to see, their ancestors contributions, this is a visual generation. The school systems do our students a disservice, because they always start African American history with their enslavement.

Tracy Scott

Tracy is a 22-year library veteran that with experience in special, academic and public libraries. Currently, the manager of Tulsa City-County Library’s Literacy, Outreach & Volunteer Services Department, she’s always searching for new ways to connect the library to people and remove barriers to library service. She received her MLIS from the University of Oklahoma and has a Bachelors in Anthropology from George Washington University. She’s completed postgraduate work in public administration and diversity, equity and inclusion and is a graduate of the Oklahoma Library Association’s Leadership Institute. She currently serves as the Local Arrangements Co-Chair for NCAAL XI. She is a member of the Tulsa City-County Library’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Executive Council and lead the creation of the library’s Let’s Talk About Race Initiative. An avid non-fiction reader, she wrote the “Life Stories” chapter in Latino Literature A Guide to Reading Interests.

Please list all BCALA Involvement

Member, NCAA XI Local Arrangements Co-Chair

Professional Activities & Extra-Curricular

East Tulsa Main Street, Oklahoma Library Association, ABOS

Accomplishments/Awards & Honors

Carol Hole Conference Attendance Award, OLA Gold Leadership Graduate, USF DEI Certificate (May, 2021)

What skills/experiences make you a good candidate to be a board member of BCALA?

NCAAL XI Local Arrangements, Facilitation, DEI

Name 3 specific things you see that need to be done to strengthen the Black Caucus?

• Idea 1: Document best practices
• Idea 2: Opportunities for mentorship/sponsorship,
• Idea 3: Increased promotion to some of the smaller ALA Affiliates
• Idea 4: Have a more visible role in DEI and librarianship

Denise Lyles

Denise Lyles is a public librarian and has been for 13 years serving communities in New York, and Stamford, Connecticut. I am currently a Youth Service Librarian at the at the South End Branch of Ferguson Library in Stamford, Connecticut. Graduated from Lehman College with bachelor’s degree in Black Studies and graduated from Queens College with a master’s degree in Library Science and Information. I am committed outreach, providing access to the library resources to diverse patrons in the community, diverse books and feels strongly about representation in literature. “Once children see themselves represented in books, their existence is validated, and they feel that they are part of the world.” Keeping busy outside of my work hours, I view Zoom workshops on Crocheting and American Cooking with a French Influence Cooking Class. Originally from New York City, I now reside in Stamford, CT.

Please list all BCALA Involvement

Current Member

Professional Activities & Extra-Curricular

CT Nutmeg Committee Member, Treasurer at Metropolitan CUM Church, Notary Public in CT

Accomplishments/Awards & Honors

Management for Excellence Certificate, working towards Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate.

What skills/experiences make you a good candidate to be a board member of BCALA?

I have good interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport quickly with both colleagues.

Name 3 specific things you see that need to be done to strengthen the Black Caucus?

• Idea 1: Increase in Membership
• Idea 2: Workshops geared to trends aimed at retaining and investing in librarians of color
• Idea 3: Membership Program

Jessica Tingling

I have worked in a variety of professional information environments for several years, ranging from classrooms and archives to libraries and studio spaces. These programs and endeavors have provided me with informative opportunities to engage and promote the production, distribution, and preservation of quality information materials for all age groups in a variety of subject matters. I have assisted with cataloging projects, designed a variety of libguides, and developed content for library’s social media platforms. I am also the owner of J&B Press LLC, a publishing house dedicated to preserving and sharing the arts and experiences of marginalized communities. Learn more: http://jandbpressphilly.com/

Please list all BCALA Involvement

BCALA member, NCAAL Programming Committee, NCAAL Fundraising Committee

Professional Activities & Extra-Curricular

In addition to serving on NCAAL committees I am the Lead Content Designer for the organization WOC+Lib. I am an active member of the African American Alumni Council of Franklin and Marshall College and act in a consulting capacity with the Records Committee of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of ChurchTowne in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

What skills/experiences make you a good candidate to be a board member of BCALA?

I passionately care about the creation, distribution and preservation of information assets. I believe every student should have access to information and pour my energies into that goal. The BCALA is an exceptional organization that fans these flames. It is a collection of individuals that actively support information professionals across disciplines. We dynamically engage information professionals at every stage of their career to let them know that there are a plethora of resources available to take their professional skills to the next level. The community and support that the BCALA affords its members is invaluable. I am thankful to back the BCALA in variety of capacities.

Name 3 specific things you see that need to be done to strengthen the Black Caucus?

• Idea 1: Outreach
• Idea 2: Fundraising
• Idea 3: Marketing

Tiffani Carter

Tiffani N. Carter is a graduate from Kent State University where she completed coursework in the Master of Library and Information Science program in August 2015. Tiffani has earned a Master of Arts in Communication with a Minor in Marketing and Cultural Studies with a Certification in College Student Development and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a Minor in Business Management and Marketing – both from Northern Kentucky University. Tiffani has taught communication courses including Cross-Cultural Communication, Interracial Communication and International Popular Culture. Tiffani’s areas of interest include public librarianship, technology training and outreach.

Please list all BCALA Involvement

I participate in BCALA programming, conferences, webinars, share related information via social media and within my organization and reference BCALA activities/insights in leadership meetings.

Professional Activities & Extra-Curricular

Selected as an ALA Lightening Round Presenter (Chicago ALA) Former Staff Association President (Indianapolis Public Library) Volunteered at Indiana’s Women Prison – Reading Workshop and Library Implicit Bias Trainer (Columbus Metropolitan Library)

Accomplishments/Awards & Honors

• Former Adjunct Professor – Intercultural and International Communication (Northern Kentucky University)
• Created and Facilitated a DEI Staff Book Club (Indianapolis Public Library)
• Appointed to COVID-Reopening Leadership Committee (Columbus Metropolitan Library, 2020)
• Appointed to Racial Equity Steering Committee (Columbus Metropolitan Library, 2021-2023)
• Initiated and Hired Youth Engagement Specialist Position to support youth of color (CML)
• Featured Speaker at annual fundraiser (Columbus Metropolitan Library)

What skills/experiences make you a good candidate to be a board member of BCALA?

My professional philosophy is, “You cannot effectively serve a population you do not value” – I am diligent in building community and holding the doors open to this field (including our resources) as others have done for me. Early in my career pursuits, I recognized the need to be deliberate and intentional about closing the gap between theory and practice – this is my focus and motivation. I am committed to being a key facilitator in our most vulnerable population’s knowledge management and digital literacy through teamwork and shared leadership. I am also committed to the examination of systemic barriers to creating more inclusive and equitable external services as well as internal opportunities. While my professional experiences in various roles of standard, public librarianship as a black woman have well-informed my perspectives of needed, impactful change, my development benefits from an opportunity to collaborate on these efforts with other leadership and peers. If selected, my intention in joining Black Caucus of the American Library Association Executive Board is to be a voice of insight as well as open-minded to the experiences, wisdom and perspectives of fellow practitioners.

Name 3 specific things you see that need to be done to strengthen the Black Caucus?

• Idea 1: Member highlights as a tool to encourage networking and professional exposure.
• Idea 2: Regional membership liaisons by State.
• Idea 3: Monthly State of BCALA email blasts.

Kimberly Brown-Harden

I am Kimberly Brown-Harden; I am a wife, daughter, friend, and most importantly, a child of God. I like to see myself in libraries and library services. I like to see my people learn and thrive as well as develop new skill sets. I work in an urban library where there are areas for ‘opportunity’. I’m hoping that by sharing my skillset and serving the community, I can help build up the community. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Please list all BCALA Involvement

Member

Professional Activities & Extra-Curricular

Vice President, LearnRT, ALA; Former Board Member, Indiana Coalition for Open Government.

What skills/experiences make you a good candidate to be a board member of BCALA?

Creative thinker, passion to serve the community.

Name 3 specific things you see that need to be done to strengthen the Black Caucus?

• Idea 1: More visibility
• Idea 2: Organized
• Idea 3: Learning Opportunities