Front Desk

Tracie Hall, Director, American Library Association Office for Diversity

Tracie Hall, 35, says her goal is to "trouble the waters and get people to think beyond their own comfort zone." She's got some new backing for that: a $928,142 grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, which will help the American Library Association's (ALA) Office for Diversity double the number of students in the Spectrum Initiative from 105 to 210. Regarding diversity, Hall says, some people feel competitive, that "my struggle is bigger than yours," as they fight for one piece of the pie: "We have to get to the idea that the whole pie belongs to all of us."

While running a homeless shelter in her native Los Angeles, she read an ad from the Seattle Public Library for someone to work with at-risk youth and took a job there. Meeting Satia Orange, director of ALA's Office of Literacy and Outreach Services, Hall said, "moved my life in a whole different direction. I saw something I wanted to be." A former Spectrum Scholar herself, Hall received her MLIS from the University of Washington in 2000 and became a librarian at the New Haven Free Public Library, CT, where then-director Howard McGinn inspired her to channel her enthusiasm and bravado. "I think librarianship needs more risk takers," Hall said. "We need people who are willing to sacrifice self and ego to the idea of service. If we don't do it now, we might not have a tomorrow."

After announcing she would leave the directorship of the San Francisco Public Library to head the Tucson-Pima Public Library, AZ (see News, LJ 6/15/04, p. 18ff.), Susan Hildreth accepted the position of California State Librarian. She had entered into preliminary discussions about the state library job, but the deadline for the Tucson opportunity precluded her remaining in the process.

She told LJ that, after she accepted the Tucson spot, she informed Governor Schwarzenegger's staff that she was committed to another position. However, she said, she did not officially withdraw her candidacy out of respect for the support from Kevin Starr, who retired as state librarian in April. Hildreth did not initiate contact with state officials but was called at the end of June, just as she was planning to move to Tucson.

"The city of Tucson has been enormously gracious," said Hildreth. Tucson assistant city manager Liz Miller told LJ, "[Hildreth's] a respected professional. We recognize this is an extraordinary opportunity and wish her well." For the directorship, Miller said Tucson officials likely would contact the other two finalists in the search.