A couple of weeks age, we asked the ALA Presidential Candidates to answer the following question: “What Two Challenges are Most Critical to Public Libraries?” You can see their responses here.We also asked the PLA Presidential candidates the same question. (What two challenges are most critical to public libraries?) Here are their responses (250 words or less):

Marcia Warner:
Being overwhelmed by life. Being supportive to both employees and patrons in tough economic times. These two challenges confront public libraries every day as we serve people facing steep challenges in their lives: a precarious housing situation, joblessness, low literacy skills, and more. These may be our patrons, but they can also be our staff, our volunteers, and our board members. As needs grow and funds shrink, we are being asked to do more with less. Libraries need to find balance between the internal and external demands placed on our staff and the increasing needs of our patrons. Stress and burnout soar as library professionals cope with not only their own challenges, but also those of the people they serve.

Professional organizations like ALA and PLA are essential in providing its members with the tools they need to operate public libraries at the highest levels of professionalism, no matter what the climate or season. These organizations provide engaging and energetic continuing education for all library workers, foster mentoring relationships, and identify and promote best practices. Working and growing together, libraries and their professional organizations can impact their communities and thrive. Get more information about Marcia Warner here.

Rivkah Sass:
Maintaining our relevance
Public libraries are the last best hope of our democracy and we are truly in the fight of our lives. Having to choose between public safety and lifelong learning is no choice at all, and yet in community after community around the country, that is exactly what is happening. Our message has to be loud and clear: public libraries are the new first responders. We are on the front lines when it comes to workforce development, school readiness, access to technology and lifelong learning. Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library is an incredible example of how public libraries changed the conversation about school readiness and retooled ourselves to be partners in preparing young children for school. Perhaps the next big thing for us is working together to promote all that we do related to helping people learn new skills for new jobs, starting a small business, and succeeding in the 21st Century.

Willingness to consider things we have never considered before.
It isn’t just about change management or risk taking; the challenges we face mean that we have to question everything we are doing and seek partnerships we have never before considered. As a librarian, I know just how difficult “the difficult conversation” can be. However, that doesn’t mean that we don’t engage in it! Our current funding challenges are an opportunity to engage with our funders, our unions and our communities to truly think strategically about what we need to do to build a future. There are partnerships we haven’t even considered and new models of service we haven’t yet imagined. The excellent Communities of Practice model that PLA implemented should include dialogue between libraries and other service providers outside our walls. Get more information about Rivkah Sass here.

Polls close on April 23, 2010! Get more ALA election information here.