Elaine Hirsch Elected President of Oregon Library Association
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Elaine Hirsch, associate director of Watzek Library, has been elected as the incoming vice president/president-elect of the Oregon Library Association (OLA). OLA is the leading professional association in the state for public, academic, and school librarians.
“As OLA President I will help provide strategic direction for the association with the OLA Board and advocate for libraries at the local, state, and national levels as providers of equitable access to information services and community partners positively impacting the lives of others,” Elaine said.
Elaine has been active in the association since arriving in Oregon in 1998. She has served on the Oregon Authors Committee, the Oregon Chapter of the Association for College and Research Libraries Board, the Children’s Services Division, and chaired the Leadership Committee, among other roles.
As a librarian, Elaine’s interests include public services, space planning, employee development, community outreach, and the historical and socio-cultural development of children’s literature. In particular, she has published and presented in the area of children’s literature, including the literature written for youth about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. At Lewis & Clark, she has served as a reference librarian, advancement librarian, and as associate director for the library since 2013.
Elaine was elected to a three-year term in her role at OLA, with the first year as vice president/president-elect, the second year as president, and the third year as past-president.
