Sam Helmick
Library Worker, Advocate, Community-Builder, Consultant, Facilitator, Marketer, Writer, and Speaker
About
Sam holds a MLIS from the University of Illinois. They are passionate about building effective coalitions to leverage stories which bring awareness and seek to resource robust library services.
Sam currently coordinates the excellent teams which provide circulation, public relations, marketing, outreach, and bookmobile services to the Iowa City community. They serve on the American Library Association Executive Board. Sam was the 2023 Iowa Library Association President.
Experience
Iowa City Public Library
Community & Access Services Coordinator
Launched Welcome Kiosk services through a new volunteer initiative.
Increased Bookmobile operational services by 20 percent.
Piloted ESL tours and library card drives with the Mexican Consulate and Kirkwood Community College.
Developed a training infrastructure and continued education committee.
Burlington Public Library
Public Services Manager
Created outreach events for new families, teens, and seniors which has helped to increase library card registration by 13%, young adults’ circulation by 142% and senior participation at library events by 29%.
Demonstrated expertise in areas related to client relations, circulation policies, procedures, human resources practices, document delivery, staff development, and interlibrary loan.
Preserved the existing level of adult services and programming during a 24% budget decrease through collaboration with staff, stakeholders, the Friends of the Library, the Library Board of Trustees, extensive fundraising and successful submissions for humanities and materials grants.
Responsible for all circulation, reference, local history, homebound, interlibrary loan, outreach, and marketing operations.
Southeastern Community College Business School
Instructor
Develop coursework, practicums, final projects, and requisite classes for the Social Media Marketing Certification.
Teach sessions through CBIZ (Southeastern Community College Center of Business) focused on local entrepreneurial goals.
Offer guidance and collaborative opportunities for each campus as a member of the Social Media Academic Advisory Committee.
Leadership
ALA Executive Board
Liaison Groups: RUSA, YALSA, IFRT, ALA Awards Committee, Chapter Relations Committee, ALA Literacy Committee, Policy Monitoring Committee, Intellectual Freedom Committee
Iowa Library Association
President, Vice President, Chapter Councilor, Intellectual Freedom chair, Government Affairs chair
ALA Council
Iowa Chapter Councilor, Policy Monitoring Committee
Iowa Governor’s Commission of Library
Commissioner, Commission chair
YALSA
Michael L. Printz Award Committee, YALSA Fundraising Taskforce, YALA blog
RUSA
Sophie Brody Award Committee
RainbowRoundtable
‘Welcome to All” taskforce, Stonewall Book Awards Committee
#LibrariesTransform Campaign
Because Statements Committee
ALA Emerging Leaders
YALSA social media calendar project
Contact
Sam is always available for side collaborations and talks worldwide. If you want to chat about access, advocacy, intellectual freedom, books, LEGO, or anything else, don’t hesitate in reaching out.
samhelmick.library@gmail.com
Sam for Libraries 