Brandi Veal selected as 2023 AASL Emerging Leader

CHICAGO – Brandi Veal has been selected as one of two participants sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) in the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2023 Emerging Leaders program. The Emerging Leaders program enables library workers from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Veal and Cybele Garcia Kohel will join 44 of their peers as the program kicks off during ALA’s LibLearnX event in New Orleans, LA.

Veal, of Sacramento, California, earned a Master of Library and Information Science from San Jose State University in 2020 and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management of Human Resources and Organizational Behavior from California State University in 2017. She received training in education, childhood development, and family services from the University of San Diego in 2018 and her library media teacher credentials from San Jose State University in 2019.

Veal is currently a school librarian at Del Campo High School in the San Juan Unified School District. She also currently serves as a librarian consultant for the Plumas County Office of Education and a library media technician at Cordova High School in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District.

She says her greatest accomplishment was fought for while still working as a library assistant during the pandemic. Veal advocated for a full-time librarian position with the principal and assistant superintendent at her former school. She focused on issues of equity and brought up school stated priorities that looked towards college and career readiness markers, such as literacy rates. While ultimately timing did not allow for her to take the position, one was created the following school year, and she considers its existence and the impact it will have on that learning community her greatest accomplishment.

“As a second-year teacher librarian, I am so excited to take part in the Emerging Leaders program to expand my librarian circle, as well as improve my practice and be more active in the field and profession as a whole,” said Veal. “School libraries can feel isolating at times, but I am excited to work on this project with my peers and learn from one another to better serve my patrons.”

Following the kickoff session, the Emerging Leaders will collaborate with their peers in an online learning and networking environment. Their work will culminate with a poster session during the 2023 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, IL. With its sponsorship of Veal and Garcia Kohel, AASL will defray the cost of attending both LibLearnX and the 2023 ALA Annual Conference.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.