Washington Association of Library Employees |
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CLEWS When people hear CLEWS some ask "What is CLEWS anyway?" CLEWS is the name given for Classified Library Employees of Washington State, an interest group of Washington Library Association. CLEWS, beginning in January, 1973, was originally a group of support staff employees of academic libraries involved with the State of Washington's Higher Education Personnel Board (HEPB) and its attempt to standardize position classification and salary administration in Washington State institutions of higher education. Dealing with a state personnel system made obvious the need for an organized group which would provide a channel of communication for the support staff, an official organ through which we might have a voice in the decisions which affected our working lives. The concept of such an organization generated interest among employees outside the academic world. Common concerns were discovered, and the group readily expanded to include people from public and private libraries. We wanted to have representatives from all types of libraries, with better library service being provided through better qualified employees. WALE On September 21, 1973 the members voted not to be an interest group of WLA. After a few months, we decided we could reach a lot more people and be of better service if we were associated with WLA. That was March 1974, and we have been an interest group of WLA ever since. Geraldine Haynes was our first president. In 1984, we voted to change our name to the Washington Association of Library Employees, or WALE. Geraldine Hennessy, another charter member got the Emeritus Award in 1979 for her work in CLEWS and WLA. Jeanine Rochon also received the Emeritus Award in 1993. This is one of the highest awards WLA offers its members. When we requested to become an interest group in WLA the original aims of the group were:
We wished to provide a bond between WALE members and WLA members to further communication between the two groups. Membership in WALE is contingent upon WLA membership. These are still our aims. We are an organization of employees from all types of libraries in Washington State, including municipal, county, regional, private and public academic, industrial, and research libraries. Association with the WLA Executive Board has established a direct line of communication for support staff, and we are being heard through representation in other organizations. When WALE was first started people thought we were going to be like a union and be able to solve problems for them. This is not what WALE is for. WALE is not a union or a bargaining agent. The purpose of WALE is recognition of the support staff library employee. Librarianship is steeped in ancient tradition, support staff is not. Communication through the organization has been most successful as a result of networking. Over the years we have had workshops on many different aspects of library and personal relationships. We present workshops that will help one do better on the job, improve work skills, and develop better interpersonal relationship with co-workers and your supervisor. We have had Legislative workshops, Washington Library Network and on-line terminals, and workshops on communication. We could go on and on about WALE workshops and how one can learn through WALE, but why not join and help plan some future workshops! WALE CONFERENCES In 1992, WALE held its first conference in Chelan, Washington. It was an overwhelming success and rapidly outgrew the Chelan facilities. We have very knowledgeable, talented presenters and speakers. The conferences offer insightful and meaningful workshops which help support staff not only in their workday worlds but also in their private roles. The 1996 Conference was the first held in a new location. Active, concerned library employees are a prerequisite to fulfilling the many committee posts and functions of a vital organization. Each WALE member is urged to participate in library affairs and to Become Involved. Talk to the person next to you. If they are not a WALE member, perhaps they would be interested in joining. It is a shame that when one takes office in an organization and holds a gavel in their hand that they are not immediately infused with super knowledge and super abilities. All is not lost, however, if that office has an able and willing staff and active members. Our future as support staff (or para-professionals or para-librarians) is to establish by sincere efforts, mutual understanding and respect within the library profession . CLEWS PRESIDENTS
WALE CHAIRPERSONS
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