It is both an exciting and challenging time for the American Library Association (ALA). The Association is preparing to celebrate its sesquicentennial and seeks to ensure ALA is well-positioned to sustainably serve current and future generations of librarians and library workers.
The talent and hard work of our member leaders and the ALA staff of our 14 offices, eight divisions, and 19 round tables are critically important to delivering high-quality professional development, advocacy, publications, collaborations, accreditation, grants, and networking opportunities that our 48,000 members need and expect. Together our work is essential to protect the freedom to read, diversify the profession, uphold core values and standards, and maintain federal funding, to name just a few. A financially strong ALA is the foundation that makes so much of our work possible and is what prompted me to accept the Nominating Committee’s invitation to stand for election as ALA treasurer.
Since the status quo and “paralysis by analysis” are not options for ALA’s financial future, trust and communication will be critical as we break down silos, streamline operations, increase accountability, and better align ALA’s resources with strategic priorities. Trust will also be important as ALA implements a new overhead operating agreement with our revenue-generating units. These units must have sufficient resources to continue to innovate and respond to the changing needs of our members. To ensure trust as your next ALA treasurer, I will follow one basic leadership principle: NO SURPRISES.
With an MBA and MSI-LIS combined with 19 years of experience as director of Clinton–Macomb Public Library, an independent library district in Metro Detroit that has a governing board, I am very familiar with budgeting, forecasting, financial controls, and audits—from start to finish, during good and challenging financial times.
As an adjunct associate clinical professor at the University of Michigan School of Information, I created massive open online courses on budgeting and finance as well as strategic planning, which helped sharpen my skills at explaining financial concepts and terms in a jargon-free manner.
The ALA treasurer’s duties start on Day 1. There is no “elect” year to prepare for the position. Having recently served on the ALA Executive Board (2020–2023), ALA Council (2017– 2023), ALA Finance and Audit Committee (2021–2023), and ALA Budget and Review Committee (2020–2021), I am well acquainted with ALA’s operations, finance staff, and member leaders with whom I would be serving on the incoming Executive Board. I am also a former president of the Public Library Association (2014–2015).
As an engaged board member, I read, listen, ask questions—whether easy or difficult—and then respectfully share my opinion. Several recent past ALA presidents and treasurers with whom I have served have endorsed my candidacy (please visit larry4ala.org).
It would be an honor to give back through this service to ALA, an association that has greatly enriched my career and provided an amazing network of friends and colleagues who share my passion for libraries. I thank you for your consideration and respectfully request your vote.
