The best job I ever had

摘要

During my 1995-96 term as president of the American Library Association I was often asked, "What's it like?" It was a question I enjoyed answering because my enthusiastic response was always the same: "It's the best job I ever had." I'd neverend my answer there; I'd share the reasons the experience was more exhilarating, more challenging, more rewarding than I had ever imagined. I'd like to share my experiences here in the hopes of encouraging others to consider becoming ALA president. From the day of my election, when flowers, calls, and e-mail messages flooded my office, I was overwhelmed by the response the president got not only from friends close at hand, but also from colleagues around the world, and from members of the public and private sectors who were aware of the role of the president and the 58,000 members she represented. HELP AND SUPPORT FROM ALA ALA equipped me with the skills and the supportive staff I needed to do the job well and to know fully what the job was. Within 10 days of my election, the executive director and her administrative assistant traveled to my home to brief me onthe major issues facing the Association and the education I would be given to ensure that I knew how to perform my role. I was sent to public-communication specialists in New York City where I learned how to take my message through the media to the people, regardless of the questions I was asked or the topic I was addressing. And I was taught how to do it with grace and dignity. But the media experts didn't stop there. They counseled me in makeup application for the TV lens and they told me what colors to wear and what would look best on camera. Along with the office came a budget for my campaign and for a staff person in my home office to handle my travel bookings, schedule, and the myriad details that came with the position.