Council I Introduces New Executive Director

January 26, 2020

ALA logo

At the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Philadelphia on January 26, ALA President Wanda Kay Brown called the first Council meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.

Brown introduced the first Lois-Ann Gregory Wood Fellow, Tashia Munson of Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Brown then introduced Tracie D. Hall, ALA’s new executive director, who will start February 24.

The minutes from the 2019 ALA Annual Conference (CD#2) were adopted. ALA Executive Director Mary Ghikas presented the review of executive board actions taken at the 2019 Annual Conference (CD#15) and 2019 Fall Meeting (CD#15.1). She then presented the implementation report of Council actions taken at the Annual Conference (CD#9).

Lessa Pelayo-Lozada, chair of the Steering Committee on Organizational Effectiveness, and Jim Meffert of Tecker International updated Council on the committee’s activities (CD#35).

The Committee on Committees report was given by Chair Julius C. Jefferson Jr. The candidates for election for three-year terms (2020–2023) to the ALA Executive Board (CD#11) are Sara Dallas, Sandy Hirsh, Susan Jennings, Larry Neal, Alexandra Rivera, and Eric Suess. Ann Ewbank and Latrice Booker were nominated from the floor. Brown announced the tellers for the 2019-2020 Executive Board elections (CD#11.1): kYmberly Keeton, Romelia Salinas, and Chair Andrew Wertheimer.

ALA Awards Committee Chair Buenaventura B. Basco moved that the committee change the name of the Melvil Dewey Medal to the ALA Medal of Excellence (CD#31). The motion passed. Bill Sudduth, acting chair of the ALA Resolutions Committee, presented that committee’s report (CD#10.1).

A resolution ensuring intellectual freedom and the right to peacefully assemble at ALA events (CD#40) passed.

Ghikas reported that there were 5,337 attendees in Philadelphia, along with 2,631 exhibitors, for a total of 7,968 registrants. There were 6,347 attendees at Midwinter in Seattle in 2019, along with 2,693 exhibitors, for a total of 9,040 registrants; 7,894 attended in Denver in 2018.

Brown adjourned the meeting at 9:55 a.m.

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