By A. Faulkner
What is your role in the GLBTRT?
I am a general member.
What does the GLBTRT mean to you?
GLBTRT means that there is a dedicated space within ALA for education and learning specific to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues. It means there will be people charged to identify, celebrate and promote distinguished literature by GLBTQ authors about GLBTQ experiences.
Are you involved in ALA in other ways?
I am a member of ALSC, YALSA, and AASL. I am Chair of the Technology Committee for the Coretta Scott King Book Awards (CSK/EMIERT) and co-chair of ALA-Children’s Book Council Joint Committee. I am on the board of USBBY as a YALSA representative.
What professional work do you perform?
I am a school librarian. I served for 17 years as the elementary librarian at a Title I school outside New York City (Mt. Kisco Elementary School in the Bedford Central School District), but a budget crisis led to many cuts and now I am the librarian at Fox Lane High School in the same district. I am the high school GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) advisor.
What would you like to share about your personal life?
I am an education activist, and I am discouraged.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of the relationships I have built with students, many from kindergarten up through high school and beyond.
Who inspires you?
KT Horning
What are your goals? (Professional and/or personal.)
To stay positive, to listen, to keep learning, to resist and be part of the change that is needed.
What do you think (or predict) is the future of libraries?
Libraries will be even important as people seek community programs and shared resources. I hope that school librarians will not be a thing of the past, because school librarians teach children to value and use libraries.
In what direction would you like the GLBTRT to move in the future?
I would like to see the GLBTRT become more visible and connect with other groups under the library umbrella to educate and inform – and partner with – others.
If you could be transported into the fictional world of any book, where would you go?
Any Beach Book with a predictable plot and a beautiful setting. I might not want to read the book, but for at least a week, I would like to live it…
What would be the title of your autobiography?
True Story
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?
You Can Call Me Al
If you could have a dinner party with 5 culturally or historically significant figures, living or dead, who would you invite?
Dorothy Parker
Eve Ensler
Quincy Jones
David Sedaris
Junot Diaz
Looking for lively conversation here…
What is the meaning of life?
To find one’s purpose and one’s people
