Montana Library Association
Candidates

Milla L. Cummins
Library Director, Livingston-Park County Public Library, 1994-present

Milla Cummins has been the Library Director at Livingston-Park County Public Library since 1994 and was the Current Periodicals/Microforms Supervisor, Wisconsin—Milwaukee from 1993-1994. She has an MLIS from the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee (1993) and a BA from Carleton College (1966).

Montana libraries represent an outstanding value. Whether academic, public, school or special, most of our libraries provide access to books, periodicals, audio books, CDs, CD-ROMs, videos, DVDs, computer software, electronic databases, and the Internet for an annual per-taxpayer cost of less than one hardcover book. This remarkable achievement is made possible in large part because Montana librarians and libraries are so very motivated and practiced at working cooperatively to share skills and resources for the benefit of all Montana citizens.

Whether rallying to support important legislative issues, providing assistance with reference stumpers and management challenges through Wired-MT, or presenting continuing education opportunities for colleagues at division retreats and the annual conference, Montana Library Association members form the heart of this exceptional synergy. As MLA president, I could not do better than to help maintain this tradition of shared resources and expertise by searching for new opportunities for us to work together in the delivery of library services.

Professional Affiliations:

Montana Library Association, 1994-present

Government Affairs Committee, 1996-2001
      Co-chair, 1999-2000

Public Library Division secretary, 1998-1999

MLA/MPLA Joint Conference Meals Committee, 1999

Headwaters Library Association, 1994-present

Mountain Plains Library Association, 2001-present

American Library Association, 1992-present

Anita Scheetz
Library Director, Fort Peck Tribal Library

My name is Anita Scheetz. I am the library director of Fort Peck Tribal Library at Fort Peck Community College in Poplar, Montana and have been in this position since April 1991. I am a native Montanan and have Montana K-12 school library certification. In 2001, I received my Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Oklahoma.

During the time that I have been here, the college has added distance learning classes from Montana four-year institutions, which has meant changes in collection development to meet those needs. The library has been remodeled and expanded. Of course, we now have public access computers and T-1 Internet access. This past summer, we added a satellite campus and have set up an agreement with Roosevelt County Library to provide services to our students in the other community.

I have been a member of MLA since 1991and try to attend the MLA conference every year because of the great networking that happens. I have served on the MLA Legislative Committee, Professional Development Committee, ASLD Retreat Committee and was elected as Director-at-Large - East.

I am running for Vice President/President elect at the request of Coby Johnson, and until her suggestion, I had not considered running for office. I have no agenda at this time, but I could do the job, and if elected, would do it to the best of my ability.

Director at Large-West

Joan Bishop
Trustee, Lewis and Clark Library, Helena, MT

When I think of libraries, I realize that my admiration for their services in our community has come from three perspectives. First, as a former teacher and freelance writer for the Montana Historical Society, I have been an active patron. Then I worked on the information desk at the Lewis & Clark Library in Helena and learned how libraries work behind the scenes. Now I am a county-appointed trustee, keenly aware of that advocacy role!

During this time, I have enjoyed Montana Library Association's conventions and appreciated the efforts that went into putting on major conferences. I've also been energized by MLA's Legislative Affairs Committee's considerable work to involve me and other in lobbying the state legislature for InfoTrac funding and library district legislation. Presently, with Montana State Library librarian Tracy Cook's help, I am working with trustees around the state to form an MLA interest group. That is exciting. Now I would like to learn more about Montana's library community and give more sustained time to MLA by serving as a director.

Magi Malone
Librarian, Glacier National Park

As many of you know, my library career has been peripatetic. Ranging from southern Wisconsin to New York City to points throughout Montana, I have worked in a variety of library positions that have always challenged me and taught me many lessons. I am now the librarian for Glacier National Park, and the challenges and lessons continue.

My involvement in the Montana Library Association has mainly been as a participant and/or presenter at the annual conference or as a volunteer for conference preparations, but almost always as a member since I moved to Montana in 1991.

As Director-at-Large West, I would actively promote and encourage membership and participation in the Association by creating and maintaining communication with current and potential members. The challenges (and lessons) that librarians and libraries face will continue, and our membership in the statewide Association is as important as ever.

Secretary/Treasurer

Debbi Kramer
Library Director, 1994, Judith Basin Co. Free Library

Goals: The Montana Library Association is very important to librarians, library staff and trustees in Montana libraries. MLA works diligently to provide professional growth opportunities for all those associated with Montana libraries. MLA has strengthened my abilities as a library director and I feel it is my turn to give back to MLA. If everyone takes his or her turn at helping MLA, it will continue to thrive and grow.

MLA Membership: 1996-

South Central Federation Membership: 1994-

Public Library Division Membership: 1996-

Secretary Public Library Division, 2003-2004

Registration Co-Chair ASLD/PLD Chico Retreat 2004

Federation Futures Task Force Committee Member 2004

ALA Membership: 2004-

ALA Representative

Beth Boyson
Reference Librarian, Bozeman Public Library

Beth earned her MLA at Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts. She has worked at Bozeman Public Library full-time since 1997 in the Technical Services Department and Reference Staff. From 1995-1997 she worked in MSU- Bozeman Tech Services Dept as Head of Serials and Acquisitions, and from 1998-2003 worked part-time on the MSU Reference Staff.

Beth served in the MLA Intellectual Freedom Committee from 1996-2003, including two terms as chair and also is an officer in the Headwaters Library Association.

Campaign statement: In order to best serve MLA using my advocacy and communication skills and experience, which I also hope to further develop, I hope to be elected Montana's ALA Rep. I'm certain ALA has much to offer MLA if we can get that powerful force to commit resources to issues such as rural libraries, education of staff, censorship and funding. I'm determined to 'give back' a little to the state of Montana and the Library Association which has given me so much. Should MLA members elect me, serving MLA as state rep to the ALA council is one way for me to do so.

Lois Fitzpatrick
Library Director, Carroll College

It seems that I have worked in libraries my entire life. I started by setting up a library for a tutoring project for children who lived in Harlem, New York City while I was in high school. I began my paid employment as a para-professional bringing library service to the unserved in Yonkers New York. I basically paid my college tuition by being a story teller and puppeteer for the Yonkers Public Library (YPL). I went to Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY for my Masters in Library and Information Services, and yes, a tree does grow in Brooklyn. I remained with the YPL system as a junior librarian. I worked in Children's Services; Young Adult Services; Adult Readers' Services; Service to the Homebound; Extension Services (bookmobile and school outreach).

I left YPL to move to Montana in the summer of 1976 where I was hired as a reference librarian for Carroll College. Within a year I was Acting Director while the Director was on Sabbatical. I assisted with the move to our new building in 1979 and became director in 1979. I also directed the renovation of the building in 1988. I am a full professor at the college and I teach classes in research; children's literature and I guest lecture on copyright; censorship; lobbying; cancer; and meeting etiquette.

I joined ALA in 1974. I joined MLA when I first moved to Montana in 1976. Though I did let my ALA membership lapse for a number of years, I have been a member of ALA for many years again, and I am active in MLA and wish to represent Montana at ALA. I believe my lobbying experience and my knowledge of how meetings are and should run will assist me at ALA. I have worked on many statewide committees both for MLA (Resolutions Committee; Nominations Committee; Sheila Cates Scholarship Committee; Government Affairs Committee) and for the State Library (Inter-Library Loan Committees; Technology Task Force; Laws Revision Task Force; Virtual Reference; LSTA Council and both Pre-White House Conference on Libraries etc.). I have presented workshops at MLA conferences and currently act as Parliamentarian for MLA. I believe that all my experience and work with MLA and MSL has given me an understanding of the needs and concerns of the libraries in Montana, and I would be able to represent those needs and concerns to ALA.

PNLA Representative

Norma Glock
School Librarian, Columbus High School

I was born and raised in Eastern Montana and have been going to school since I was six years old. I have been a librarian for Columbus School District for 17 years having earned advance degrees in Technology from MSU-B and Library Arts from University of Arizona.

I joined the Montana Library Association when I entered the field as a K-12 librarian in Columbus. I finished my term as Awards Chairman with the organization and would like to stay involved with the Association. Therefore, I would like your support as I "campaign" (on a very low budget) for Pacific Northwest Library Association representative. I have attended one Board meeting, filling for Jan Zauha, and would like to become more involved with this dynamic group of librarians.

Mary Anne Hansen
Reference Librarian, Montana State University, Bozeman

I am an Associate Professor and Reference Librarian at Montana State University-Bozeman. During the 2002 - 2003 academic year, I served in an 11-month appointment as Interim Associate Dean, and have just assumed the role of Distance Education Coordinator for The MSU-Bozeman Libraries. I currently serve as President of the Bozeman Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Foundation Representative for the Bozeman Branch of Phi Delta Kappa, an international education organization. During 2000 - 2002, I served as Treasurer-Elect and Treasurer for the ALA New Members' Round Table. I have also served as ASLD Chair, as well as on the ASLD Retreat Planning Committee several times, and I'm currently serving on the MLA Conference 2004 Publications Committee and Publicity Committee.

I hold a Master of Library and Information Resources from the University of Arizona's distance education program, as well as a Master of Education in Adult and Higher Ed, with a Counseling emphasis from Montana State University. My undergraduate degree is a B.A. in Modern Languages, French and English, also from Montana State University. My professional and research interests include library instruction, Native American issues, leadership, mentoring and distance education. Each summer I co-facilitate a week-long professional development institute for tribal college librarians from throughout the United States and Canada.

I would be delighted to serve as PNLA Representative because I think it's vitally important that Montana library folks stay connected with library organizations at the regional, as well as the national level in order to stay abreast of the issues, as well as to network and share ideas.