Dr. Katie Clark, President of the Altadena Library District’s Board of Trustees, is a central leader in the community of Altadena whose vision and tireless commitment to libraries have created a legacy of long-term, positive impact that will provide critical library services for Altadena for decades to come. The Altadena Library District is pleased to announce that Dr. Clark’s service is being honored this year with the prestigious President’s Award from the California Library Association (CLA), which “recognizes outstanding contributions, leadership, and achievement in support of California libraries by a Trustee, Friend, Elected Official, or other layperson who has given his or her time and talents to further the advancements of California libraries.”
Dr. Clark was first elected to the Board in 2018, where she immediately championed transparency in Board governance, equity in the election process for the Board, and a visionary strategic planning process to guide the Altadena Libraries into a new era of library service.
Most notable of Dr. Clark’s achievements as a Trustee are her efforts to establish a sustainable future for the District, both financially and physically. In the spring of 2020, Dr. Clark drove the effort to develop a ballot measure that would replace the existing parcel tax when it sunsets and provide funding for building projects and library services in perpetuity. Throughout the summer of 2020, amidst a global pandemic, Dr. Clark and her team of volunteers reached out tirelessly to the community about Measure Z, and in November 2020, it passed with 73% of the community vote.
“Our District’s renewed commitment to community engagement, listening, and innovation in library service can be directly linked to the strong foundation Trustee Clark has built through her work on the Board of Trustees,” says Altadena Library District Director Nikki Winslow. “She is the true embodiment of a dedicated public servant.”
Throughout her tenure as a Trustee, Dr. Clark has played an essential role in many critical projects and goes above and beyond what is expected of an elected official, leading the transformation of the Board of Trustees into one that is proactively growing and working to improve District buildings and services in the best interest of the community of Altadena. The Altadena Libraries congratulate Dr. Clark for her award and thank her for her years of dedicated service.
The California Library Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, established in 1895 under the title of “Library Association of Central California.” Annually, CLA provides professional development and advocacy support for its members and the California library community at large. Additionally, CLA supports the administration of the California Summer Reading Program as well as further summer enrichment programs funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
The California Library Association is committed to helping library staff develop the knowledge and skills needed to work for 21st Century libraries and to advance in the library field.