REFORMA is delighted to announce that they are sponsoring Ms. Nathalie DeFelice for the 2020 American Library Association (ALA) Emerging Leaders Program. REFORMA is happy to support Nathalie in her career goals and professional development activities.
Nathalie is a 2017-2018 ALA Spectrum Scholar and received her MLIS from the University of North Texas in December 2018. Currently, she is a Children’s Librarian at the Springdale Public Library in Springdale, Arkansas. She manages and coordinates preschool, elementary, and bilingual storytimes for families. She also performs collection development management and selection of all children’s materials along with other duties. Apart from her library responsibilities, Nathalie has served on the Spectrum Advisory Committee since 2018. She also contributes to The Nerd Daily blog and is a reviewer for the website No Flying No Tights.
Nathalie’s Emerging Leader cohort will be working with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), and their project is called Developing Reflective Explorers and Innovators.
Nathalie says, “I decided to become an Emerging Leader because I want to grow as an early library professional, but also because I wanted to begin getting involved with the diverse associations that ALA has to offer. I am honored that REFORMA has chosen to sponsor me, and through this experience I hope to be able to not only develop a larger network of professional relationships, but also advocate for my community as well.”
Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Class of Emerging Leaders will be extended through 2021, culminating at the 2021 American Library Association Annual Conference.
The Emerging Leaders Program enables newer librarians from across the country to participate in workgroups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA’s structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Emerging Leaders receive up to $1,000 each to participate in ALA’s Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference, and each participant is expected to provide years of service to ALA or one of its units. For more information or to apply for the Emerging Leaders Program, please go to ala.org/educationcareers/leadership/emergingleaders.