What's It Like to Be on the Geisel Committee #4

Welcome to our continuing series featuring former Geisel committee members talking about their experiences. This post will be in interview format between former committee members Jacqueline Partch, a School Corps Librarian with the Multnomah County Library in Oregon, and Mary Schreiber, a Collection Development Specialist for the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Ohio. They served together on the 2012 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Committee.

JP: How did serving on the Geisel committee help with your day-to-day work in your job?

MS: Serving on the Geisel committee gave me a greater appreciation for beginning reader books and a better understanding of what is needed in a book to help kids on their journey to becoming a reader. These tools helped while I was a Children's Librarian because I felt better equipped to help families find the right book for each individual reader.

During my year reading for Geisel I also changed jobs and moved from working directly with children in a branch to centrally selecting materials for our 28 locations. My knowledge of beginning readers helped me find authors, series, and publishers that are creating fun, exciting, and engaging books. Now I can get them into the hands of even more kids.

JP: How did the Geisel committee compare to other ALSC committees on which you have served?

MS: I adored serving on the 2012 Geisel committee! It was my second ALA committee and my first award committee. It was the first committee that I felt I truly bonded with my fellow committee members. It is still a treat to run into each other at ALA and stay in touch through social media. The reading was intense for Geisel but smaller in scope than when I served on the 2016 Newbery committee.

My non-award committee experience has shown me some of the ins and outs of how ALSC works. Serving on Membership I got to write postcards to welcome new members; on Nominating I had the opportunity to help select candidates to go on the ballot for President, Board, and some of the award committees. Right now I'm co-chairing the ALSC Public Awareness Committee. This committee helps amplify the voice of ALSC and the work done by various committees and task forces.

I'm definitely a book person so serving on a book committee has always appealed to me, and I'm so impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the award committee and notable committee members who devote a year, or two, of their time to reading, re-reading, and lots of note taking.

JP: How do you juggle the time commitments of being on an ALSC committee with your job and personal responsibilities?

MS: Serving on an ALSC committee, whether book related or not, can be a big time commitment. You may find that your library will let you do some committee work on the job, but I wouldn't count on it when making your decision. I knew going into both Geisel and Newbery that the reading and note taking would not take place during work hours and that I would have to adjust my non-work life.

Some committees like Geisel are going to take up at least a few hours each week while others might only be an hour or two a month. At times, Newbery would take up several hours each day, especially when preparing for the Midwinter selection meeting. If you're not sure what the time needed for a specific committee is, it is okay to ask. The current chair or committee members can give you an idea.

For me, I tend to carve out the time from my personal life. This may mean less time to watch TV or go see a movie. It can also mean less time to read (if it's not a book committee). I'm a planner and organizer so I try to make sure the things that I don't compromise on are family and friends. I still make time for my niece and to attend book club each month - just not always all three discussions!

JP: What do you think are the most valuable qualities for someone who wants to serve on the Geisel committee?

MS: You need to be organized and able to meet deadlines. You don't want to be the member the chair has to track down for your suggestions each month or when nominations start. [Being] a reader of children's literature is a must. You have to have a passion for books for young readers. If you have that, you can be taught what to look for in a beginning reader and how to apply the award criteria. [You also need] the ability to view books through a critical lens. Practice discussing books - do it with kids and adults. Write reviews whether for SLJ, GoodReads, or your personal book journal. Read reviews.

JP: Of all you learned on the committee, what has stuck with you the most?

MS: That Children's Librarians have huge hearts and are dedicated to the communities they serve. Working together on a committee allows for knowledge and best practices to be shared. Whether you serve on a virtual committee or attend ALA conferences, you will have the chance to network and be inspired by librarians from all over the world.