EveryLibrary is fortunate to have a network of formal and informal advisors helping us reach the public and the library world about the importance of political action for libraries.
K.C. Boyd is a School Libraries advisor to EveryLibrary. As the Lead Librarian for the East St. Louis School District in East St. Louis, IL., she advocates heavily for school librarians. She is a proponent of street literature for teens and she has given presentations for librarians and teachers at the local, state and national levels. K.C. is a reviewer for the Street Lit. Book Award Medal and serves on the advisory board for Booklist Online. Previously, K.C. held library positions at the elementary, high school and administration levels for Chicago Public Schools, and as an adjunct professor of Library Information Science at Chicago State University and Dominican University. She is currently a is a doctoral candidate at Dominican University’s Library Information Science program. Please follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @Boss_Librarian.
Michele Cobb is a Strategic Advisor to EveryLibrary on the audio book industry. Ms. Cobb is the Executive Director of the Audio Publishers Association (APA), where she recently served as President, and is consultant to the library and publishing industries. She is a noted industry expert who has spoken at numerous audiobook workshops, events and panels focused on the public library market. She can be reached at [email protected].
Kyle K. Courtney is the Libraries & the Law Advisor to EveryLibrary, focusing on the civic and political matrix between units of government and citizens. Mr. Courtney is Copyright Advisor at Harvard University at the Library’s Office for Scholarly Communication and teaches first year legal research sessions for the Law School’s Legal Research & Writing Program, while holding a dual appointment at Northeastern University teaching on cyberlaw issues. A nationally recognized authority on copyright, technology, libraries, and the law, he holds a J.D. with distinction in Intellectual Property Law and an MSLIS. He tweets @KyleKCourtney
Francine Fialkoff is a Strategic Advisor to EveryLibrary on issues and intersections between the publishing, author, and agent community and the role that stable, well funded libraries play in life long literacy and the marketplace for published works. Ms. Fialkoff was most recently Editor-In-Chief at Library Journal where she oversaw the creation and development of key projects including the Movers & Shakers awards, the Best Small Library in America Award, and the new LibraryAware Award that shine a light on the work of librarians and libraries. She is currently a consultant to the library community ([email protected]) and project manager on Movers & Shakers and the LJ Design Institute.
Dustin Fife is Editor for The Political Librarian, our journal of tax policy and public policy for libraries. Mr. Fife is the Director of Library Services at Western State Colorado University. Before moving to Colorado, he served as the Outreach and Patron Services Librarian for Utah Valley University and Library Director for San Juan County Public Library System. Dustin studied history and philosophy at the University of Utah and library science at Emporia State University. Dustin was a 2016 Library Journal Mover and Shaker, the 2015-2016 Utah Library Association President, and 2016-2017 ALA LearnRT President. His research interest include open education, leadership and management, and advocacy. Please email him at [email protected].
Mel Gooch is a former EveryLibrary board member who understands the ecosystem of library advocacy, from front-line staff to citizen leadership. A 2002 MLIS graduate from Rutgers University, she is Librarian III – Main Library 5th Floor Manager for the San Francisco Public Library. Ms. Gooch is active in the American Library Association where she is an at-large member of their governing Council, serves on the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) Program Committee and the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) Program Committee. She is a co-founder of Bay Area Off Desk, a professional group created to promote and support libraries, library staff, and librarianship in the Bay Area. She tweets at @mel_gooch.
Jason Griffey is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at NISO. Prior to joining NISO, Jason was a technology consultant for libraries, has been both an Affiliate at metaLAB and a Fellow and Affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, and was an academic librarian and tenured professor at the University of TN at Chattanooga. A full list of his work can be found on his website: http:// jasongriffey.net.
Sara Kelly Johns is a Strategic Initiatives Advisor on School Librarians and Libraries helping EveryLibrary scope out ballot-level solutions for funding programs and positions. A longtime school library activist and consultant on school library programs, she has written and presented nationally and statewide on school librarians and advocacy. Ms. Johns is a Past President of NYLA, the American Association of School Librarians and the School Library Section of NYLA. She was an online instructor for Mansfield University’s School Library and Information Technologies and an adjunct professor for bibliographic instruction/information literacy for Plattsburgh (NY) State University Feinberg Library. Johns has been a trustee on the Plattsburgh Public Library Board of Trustees as well as member and president of the Saranac Lake Free Library Board of Trustees. She is a recent past member of the New York State Regents Advisory Council on Libraries, and a recent member and chair of the ALA Literacy Committee. Sara recently finished a three-year term as a member of the ALA’s Executive Board, Counci,l and Conference Committee and was re-elected to ALA Council. She tweets at @skjohns
Oleg Kagan is Contributing Editor for the EveryLibrary Magazine on Medium. As media advisor to EveryLibrary, he is helping to shape and explore what a consumer-focused publication can do in the advocacy and messaging space. Mr. Kagan serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the County of Los Angeles Public Library. During the past 15 years, he has held positions ranging from volunteer to branch manager at six different library locations, with short stints at several others. Mr. Kagan interests include library service to writers, advocacy, and community outreach. He is currently compiling Inspiring Library Stories, a book of library impact stories. Please email article suggestions to [email protected].
Sarah Morris is advising EveryLibrary on media and information literacy partnerships and coalitions. She is a librarian, educator, and curriculum designer with experience working in higher education, museums, non-profits, and K-12 environments. In recent years Ms. Morris has worked on developing media and digital literacy curriculum, tools, and professional development resources that empower people to combat misinformation through her Nucleus Learning Network. Sarah has partnered with the Mozilla Foundation, Hacks/Hackers, the Capitol of Texas Media Foundation, The LAMP, IREX, and ACRL on recent projects.
JP Porcaro is a Senior Advisor to EveryLibrary, helping develop our core philosophy of “Make It Happen for libraries at the ballot box”. Mr. Porcaro is Head of Acquisitions and Technological Discovery at New Jersey City University, founder of the influential gaming blog 8-Bit Library, a key convener of the Library Think Tank, and is the ALA Counselor for the New Members Round Table. He is a frequent and sought after speaker, convener, and master of ceremonies. More on Mr. Pocaro’s work can be found on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Nicole Powell is a branch supervisor for the Sacramento Public Library. Nicole has been involved with nonpartisan voter registration drives for 16 years. In 2004, Nicole served as the minority relations Outreach Team Leader for Rock the vote and Rap the Vote in Kansas City, Missouri. She worked with Project Vote, ACORN and local media outlets to bring hip hop events, political rap battles and special concerts to the area. Nicole continued to serve as Kansas City Rock the Vote team Leader through 2008. Starting as a Deputy Registrar in 1999, Nicole has been advocating for voter registration drives in libraries from Missouri to California.
John Shableski is a Strategic Advisor to EveryLibrary on the comic and graphic novel publishing industry. Mr. Shableski is a nationally recognized expert on the development of the graphic novel category in libraries and educational markets. He has served as a member of the Book Expo America Advisory board, was a judge for the 2008 Eisner Awards for Comic Con International, and serves as a consultant for the Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation. He now works for iVerse Media as the Library Program Manager for Comics Plus: Library Edition.
Ian Singer is a Strategic Development Advisor to EveryLibrary. As Chief Content Officer for Credo Reference, he leads their business development initiatives and oversees their publisher relations activities and content acquisition strategy. For over two decades Mr. Singer has been committed to innovation in the field of information services and has held leadership positions at some of the library industry’s most well-respected companies. Before joining Credo he served as Vice President, Group Publishing for Media Source, Inc., where he was responsible for strategic planning and day-to-day operations of such prestigious publications as Library Journal, School Library Journal, and The Horn Book.