An interview with FAL's new Executive Director, Marcie Soslau Johnson

Per our announcement last month, FAL is proud to introduce our new Executive Director, Marcie Soslau Johnson. Not only is Marcie a former FAL board member and dedicated volunteer (especially when it comes to BFF and the Used Book Sales), she is a familiar face to the entire community as a former City of Alameda employee. Let’s get to know Marcie a bit better!

What attracted you to the role of FAL Executive Director and how is it going so far?

I joined the FAL Board of Directors in July 2020. I moved to Alameda in 2019, right before the pandemic, from Philadelphia – the home of America’s first library. I was an avid supporter of the library there. I love libraries because they are a vehicle to self-improvement.The single most rewarding parental moment in my life was when I realized my oldest child, Michelle, could read.

It’s going well! As I mentioned, I was fortunate to become familiar with Alameda via FAL and work closely with some great volunteers, board members and Library staff to open Books for Friends and move the Used Book Sale to 1550 Oak Street in 2022. We have a great mix of tenured and new board members and it’s been a pleasure getting to work with them in my new role. The Alameda Free Library is a well-loved community pillar. Alamedans are proud to identify themselves as readers and supporters of books.

What do you like most about your role?

The commute! I live within a stone's throw from the Library. Seriously, however, what I like best is that the Library's programming and staff are responsive to the needs of the entire community. The Alameda Free Library tracks the large and small needs of the community, meeting them with creative and engaging ways that create opportunities to think and learn. Being able to be a full-time advocate for the Library's work is satisfying and engaging.

What is your vision about what FAL can best accomplish to serve the Library?

My vision is borrowed and shared with the members of the community that have supported the Alameda Free Library since its inception – free access. Looking ahead with the Library's strategic plan, the Library is thinking about how to serve everyone. That’s daunting. I’d like to position FAL in a place where we can help support this.

An exciting opportunity is the potential creation of a new branch on the west side of our island, where there is a large concentration of individuals who could newly access public library resources. Also, the concept of opening a Tool Library has been discussed and vetted within Alameda. Again, FAL is positioned to be a strong advocate for projects like these.

I have participated in and witnessed so many cycles of volunteers, staff and community-based organizations being accommodated by the Library to share their expertise with the public. These efforts are represented by the success of BFF, the gardening project outside of the Bay Farm Library, the Alameda Health Systems mobile clinic and the 2024 Super & Support pilot programming. I want to lead FAL to greatly contribute by supporting a collaborative process to continue and grow Library programming to benefit Alameda and its surrounding communities.

What would you like FAL supporters or donors to know about our organization?

That each and every volunteer and supporter has a personal attachment to the library system. Ideally, when you support FAL, you are supporting the creation of experiences for community members to develop their own relationship with Alameda Free Library. I would also add that the support is offered without conditions. The Library and its resources are available to all regardless of one's appearance, beliefs or station in life.

What's a fun fact that you'd like to share with the community?

My favorite library story to tell is from April 2019. We were still living in Philadelphia, but the contents of our house had been delivered to our new home in Alameda. Our kids were on spring break and we had traveled to SF to explore and meet the moving truck. While actively moving, I realized that our youngest, Ruby, was missing. I talked myself out of panicking and when she returned (more than 45 minutes after we had noticed she was gone), I asked her where she had went. Ruby said that she had gone to the library! I had mentioned in passing to her that we were in close proximity to the library and she should check it out. She took this literally and acted on it immediately.

Coming from Philadelphia, Alameda looks like a beautiful beach town. I am so happy that our family ended up in this wonderful community and that some of my most intimate relationships here have been borne out of service to the library.