By A. Faulkner
What is your role in the GLBTRT?
As a member
What does the GLBTRT mean to you?
That its members have a voice in ALA; that there is some variation in “the same old thing” at ALA
Are you involved in ALA in other ways?
I am a member of the Copyright Education Committee of the OITP. Previously, I have been on an assortment of ACRL committees.
What professional work do you perform?
I am the Online Graduate Services and Instruction Librarian at Drake University (Des Moines, IA)
What would you like to share about your personal life?
I am bisexual. I am (hold onto your seats!) married to a man (and recognize the het privilege that gives me), but I am not any less bisexual for it.
What are you most proud of?
Surviving, three things: the work environment, the world around me, and being raised in a sect that practices “Christian healing.”
Who inspires you?
Carrie Russel, Director of Program on Public Access to Information (read: Copyright!), OITP
What are your goals? (Professional and/or personal.)
To keep life interesting, and to continue to involve volunteer work
What do you think (or predict) is the future of libraries?
Many people will recognize us as the place where the credit-card barrier is removed, and they can access the information they need.
In what direction would you like the GLBTRT to move in the future?
This may be redundant – but whenever there is a restrictive law, such as copyright, in some ways that it is applied, that restrictive law can be used to keep minorities out of the mainstream. There are probably many laws and policies that could apply here. We should try to be aware of unnecessarily restrictive laws and/or policies and work to change them.
If you could be transported into the fictional world of any book, where would you go?
Prodigal Summer, by Barbara Kingsolver, or any other of her books.
What would be the title of your autobiography?
“Just take a moment, would you?” (In other words, LISTEN to me)
If you could only choose one song to play every time you entered a room for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Gimmie Shelter, by the Rolling Stones
If you could have a dinner party with 5 culturally or historically significant figures, living or dead, who would you invite?
Laura Ingalls Wilder, Barbara Kingsolver, Gloria Steinem, Melissa Etheridge, and Jesse Helms
What is the meaning of life?
I’m still figuring that out. I mean, I’m only 51; give me a break!
