Earlier this year, Sarah Lamdan was promoted to executive director of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) after joining the Association in 2024 as OIF deputy director.
Prior to joining ALA, Lamdan was a librarian and law professor at City University of New York School of Law, where her research focused on information access, privacy, and other legal issues related to librarianship. She is author of two books, most recently Data Cartels (Stanford University Press, 2022), which looks at privacy and access as they relate to data analytics companies and platforms.
Lamdan answered our 11 Questions to introduce herself to ALA members.
Coffee, tea, other?
Both! I have one cup of coffee with my family in the morning, then it’s herbal tea for the rest of the day. I go through tea phases. In 2025, I was determined to find the perfect chamomile tea, but now I’m into Celestial Seasonings Peppermint.
What’s the first website or app you check in the morning?
The New York Times. I’m not originally from New York, but I’ve lived here for 20 years, and I still get excited that it’s my local newspaper. I like to peruse every section, but especially the book reviews and Wirecutter recommendations.
Best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is to be honest and transparent about what you know and what you don’t know. When you work with a team, everything goes better when nobody’s left in the dark. (I’ll make an exception for surprise parties!) It’s also okay not to know everything. Often, the best response is “I’m not sure, but I can find out.” There are so many things to know, and there’s no way you know them all!
What drew you to librarianship and ALA?
I decided to become a librarian after I started law school. A professor at University of Kansas sent me to the campus archives to transcribe some letters by Susan B. Anthony. The archivists and librarians were so helpful, and the letters were so neat. I wanted to do more work like that. The librarians at my law school took me under their wings as I pursued an MLIS and a law degree. At Emporia (Kans.) State University’s School of Library and Information Management, I was drawn to intellectual freedom topics. Working at ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) was a dream job! I feel so lucky to do this work.
Most distinctive aspect of your personal office?
It’s very colorful! I have a big yellow orchid on my desk, a brightly colored rug, a multicolored quilt I won in last year’s ALA BiblioQuilters silent auction, and dozens of colorful fiction books on every surface. It always feels cheerful, even in winter when it’s cold and gloomy.
Guilty pleasure?
I love funny animal videos. Golden retrievers trying to complete obstacle courses. Birds dancing to Bruno Mars songs. I will gladly get lost down a rabbit hole of silly pet antics.
First job?
I worked at a bookstore called Rainy Day Books, which was a few blocks from my house [in Kansas]. Very on-brand, and where I learned about popular book genres, making book displays, and helping customers find their next perfect read.
What do you hope to bring to ALA and its members?
My favorite thing about working in OIF is that we get to support library workers when they need it most. It’s an honor to help fellow librarians facing intellectual freedom challenges and to help them share the principles of intellectual freedom with their libraries and communities. I hope to continue fighting for the freedom to read alongside the awesome librarians and advocates doing this work.
If you had to choose any other profession, what would it be and why?
Oh, novelist, for sure. I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I’ve been slowly working through an MFA program for creative nonfiction, and I have really enjoyed learning how to tell a compelling story.
Book(s) you’re reading?
I am always reading two books at once—a downstairs book and an upstairs book. I’m currently halfway through Curtis Sittenfeld’s Eligible, which is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I’m also halfway through Garth Greenwell’s Small Rain, which was highly recommended by one of my writing professors. Last week I finished The Wedding People by Alison Espach and Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout.
Tool used for keeping your life organized?
A shared shopping list that the whole family can update. Not only does it let me know what we need at the store, it’s a fun way to communicate.
