Patty Wong | |
---|---|
President of the American Library Association | |
In office 2021–2022 | |
Preceded by | Julius C. Jefferson Jr. |
Succeeded by | Lessa Kananiʻopua Pelayo-Lozada |
Personal details | |
Born | San Francisco,California,United States |
Occupation | Librarian |
Patricia "Patty" Wong is the city librarian of Santa Clara,California. Wong was the president of the American Library Association (ALA) for the 2021-2022 term and is the first Asian American president of the ALA. She has been on the faculty at the San Jose State University iSchool since 2006,teaching subjects such as equitable access to library services,library management,and library services to young people.
Patricia Mei-Yung Wong was born and raised in San Francisco,California; [1] [2] she is Chinese American and a fourth generation Californian. [3]
She earned her Bachelor's degree in women's studies from the University of California at Berkeley in 1983,and went on to earn her Master of Library Science degree from the same institution in 1984. [4]
Wong began her career as a children's librarian at the Oakland Public Library,developing programming for six different branches. [5] [3] She arranged multiple visits to elementary schools and worked to create partnerships between the library and local churches and other community organizations. [5] She also worked as a librarian for the Oakland Unified School District,overseeing the district library's collection and founding a (now-defunct) International Children's Library. [3] She then took a position as a children's librarian for the Berkeley Public Library,later shifting to a role in management as a supervising librarian. [3] This experience,along with work on the Public Libraries as Partners in Youth Development project,provided the opportunity to return to the Oakland Public Library as the Coordinator of Youth Services. [3]
In 2001,Wong was appointed the deputy director of the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library. [6] [7] In this role she was responsible for the daily operations of a thirteen-branch system. [6] Wong served as the director for the Yolo County Library system from 2008 to 2017,leading the nine libraries in the system. [7] During her nine years as Yolo County Librarian,she oversaw the construction and opening of two new libraries as well as major renovations at another branch. [8] She was also part of the team that authored the Yolo County Broadband Strategic Plan. [9] [10]
In 2017 she was named the Director of Library Services for the Santa Monica Public Library. [7] In that role,she oversaw the SMPL central location and four neighborhood branches. [7] Wong was announced as the next city librarian for the city of Santa Clara in July 2021. [11]
Wong has been a part-time faculty at the San Jose State University School of Information since 2006,where she has taught courses on grant writing,management,and library services to young people. [8] [2] [5] She has also served as a consultant for libraries on multiple topics,including fundraising,working with local communities,change management,youth development,and cultural diversity. [8] [6]
Wong served as the president for the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association from 1999 to 2000. [1]
She has held many leadership roles in the American Library Association,including multiple terms on the ALA Executive Board and as an at-large councilor for ALA Council,as well as chairing the ALA Budget Analysis and Review Committee. [12] In April 2020,Wong was elected ALA 2021–2022 president,and she has since completed her term. [13] [12] [14] She was the first Asian American president of the ALA. [15]
California State Senator Lois Wolk selected Wong as the 5th State Senate district's 2009 Woman of the Year,citing her dedication to improving library access. [8]
Wong was recognized for her work on diversity issues at the California State Library and her mentorship of MLIS students at San Jose State University in 2012 when she was presented with the American Library Association Equality Award [16]
San JoséState University is a public university in San Jose,California. Established in 1857,SJSU is the oldest public university on the West Coast and the founding campus of the California State University (CSU) system. The university,along side the University of California,Los Angeles has academic origins in the historic normal school known as the California State Normal School.
The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world.
The Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS),also referred to as the Master of Library and Information Studies,is the master's degree that is required for most professional librarian positions in the United States. The MLIS is a relatively recent degree;an older and still common degree designation for librarians to acquire is the Master of Library Science (MLS),or Master of Science in Library Science (MSLS) degree. According to the American Library Association (ALA),"The master’s degree in library and information studies is frequently referred to as the MLS;however,ALA-accredited degrees have various names such as Master of Information Studies,Master of Arts,Master of Librarianship,Master of Library and Information Studies,or Master of Science. The degree name is determined by the program. The [ALA] Committee for Accreditation evaluates programs based on their adherence to the Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies,not based on the name of the degree."
The Santa Clara County Library District is a public library system for Santa Clara County headquartered in Campbell,California. The library serves the communities and cities of Campbell,Cupertino,Gilroy,Los Altos,Los Altos Hills,Milpitas,Monte Sereno,Morgan Hill,Saratoga,and all unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. Other cities in Santa Clara County run their own library systems. In addition to these libraries,the library provides mobile library service with a bookmobile which visits preschools,retirement communities,migrant farmworker camps,and rural communities without easy access to library services. In 2020,SCCLD also launched a new website featuring a 24/7 online library.
The San Jose State Spartans are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent San JoséState University. SJSU sports teams compete in the Mountain West Conference at the NCAA Division I level,with football competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Delaine Andree Eastin is an American politician and educator from California. A professor by education,she was the first and only woman to date to be elected California State Superintendent of Public Instruction (1995–2003) under Governors Pete Wilson and Gray Davis. Eastin represented parts of Alameda County and Santa Clara County in the California State Assembly between 1986 and 1994. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
A Step From Heaven is the first novel by An Na,published in 2001 by Front Street Press. It won two American Library Association awards:the 2002 Michael L. Printz Award from the Young Adult Library Services Association and the 2001-2003 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature from the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association.
Clara Stanton Jones was the first African-American president of the American Library Association,serving as its acting president from April 11 to July 22 in 1976 and then its president from July 22,1976,to 1977. Also,in 1970 she became the first African American and the first woman to serve as director of a major library system in America,as director of the Detroit Public Library.
Janet Suzuki was a Japanese-American librarian. Feeling that the needs of Asian American librarians were unrepresented and underserved by the American Library Association,she co-founded the Asian American Librarians Caucus (AALC) in 1975,with Henry Chang and Yen-Tsai Feng. The AALC was a discussion group within the ALA Office for Library Outreach Services,and was the first Asian-American library organization that served the pan Asian American librarian community. It was the predecessor to the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association.
The Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature (APAAL) are a set of literary awards presented annually by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA). The APALA was formed in 1980 "to create an organization that would address the needs of Asian/Pacific American librarians and those who serve Asian/Pacific American communities." The Association was the successor to the Asian American Librarians Caucus (AALC),a discussion group within the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Library Outreach Services that focused on providing library service to minority communities and on supporting minority librarians. The APALA incorporated in 1981 and became part of the ALA in 1982.
The Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA),also known as the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association,is an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA). It was created to "address the needs of Asian/Pacific American librarians and those who serve Asian/Pacific American communities."
Rod Diridon Sr. is an American politician known for his leadership in mass transportation. He served as chair of the California High-Speed Rail Authority from 2001 to 2003. He currently chairs the advisory board of the United States High Speed Rail Association,and he chairs the National Heritage Area Project for Santa Clara County,California. The New York Times calls Diridon "a tireless advocate of public transport for the Bay Area."
The field of library science seeks to provide a diverse working environment in libraries. Ways to change the status quo include diversifying the job field with regards to age,class,disabilities,ethnicity,gender identity,race,sex,and sexual orientation.
Sharon Ann Chatman was an American college basketball coach,a lawyer,and a judge.
Emily Drabinski is an academic librarian,author,and teacher,serving as president of the American Library Association since 2023.
Elizabeth Martinez is a librarian whose career has focused on bringing diversity,multiculturalism and equality to public libraries and information policy. In 1966 she was the first Mexican American librarian to serve in the state of California. Martinez has served as a library administrator,professor,Executive Director of the American Library Association,and other roles throughout her career.
Washburn Preparatory School or Washburn College Preparatory School (1894–1911) was a private preparatory school that was located at 165 Devine Street at the corner of San Pedro Street in San Jose,California.
Regina Ursula Minudri was an American librarian best known as an outspoken proponent for public libraries and library services to young people. She served as president of the American Library Association from 1986 to 1987.
Susan H. Hildreth is an American librarian,administrator,and educator who has led numerous libraries and library agencies in addition to teaching at the University of Washington Information School. Between 2011 and 2015 she served as the director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS),the principal US federal funding agency for libraries and museums.
Nicole Amy Cooke is an African-American librarian and the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair at the University of South Carolina. Her research focus on critical cultural information studies in libraries and her advocacy for social justice have earned recognition in the library profession.