The American Library Association (ALA) announced on April 7 that Maria McCauley, director of libraries at Cambridge (Mass.) Public Library, has been elected 2025–2026 president-elect of ALA.
McCauley received 5,483 votes. Her opponent, Lindsay Cronk, dean of libraries at Tulane University in New Orleans, received 2,665 votes.
Upon learning the outcome of the election, McCauley provided the following statement:
“I am honored to be elected president of the American Library Association for 2026–2027 and grateful to everyone who voted. I look forward to working with library workers and advocates across every type of library in the United States and internationally.
“We can support, inspire, and learn from each other as we seek to improve the excellent library services that we provide for our communities. We will also continue to advocate for and celebrate the power of libraries to transform lives. I thank the Nominating Committee, supporters, and volunteers, as well as running mate, Lindsay Cronk, and former running mate, Dr. Andrea Jamison, for inspiring me along the way.”
McCauley, who was an ALA Spectrum Scholar, is a current member of the Association of College and Research Libraries, Core, and the Public Library Association (PLA). She is also a member of the Rainbow Round Table, Sustainability Round Table, Intellectual Freedom Round Table, and International Relations Round Table. Additionally, she is a member of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association, the Chinese American Librarians Association, the Black Caucus of the ALA, Reforma: The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, the American Indian Library Association, and the Freedom to Read Foundation, as well as the Massachusetts Library Association and New England Library Association.
McCauley has held several leadership positions, including at-large councilor of ALA Council, ALA Executive Board member, and member of ALA’s Fiscal and Audit Committee. She also served as 2022–2023 PLA president and as a PLA board member.
McCauley holds a PhD in managerial leadership in the information professions from Simmons University in Boston; an MLIS from University of Pittsburgh; a bachelor’s in theater from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio; and a leadership certificate from Northeastern University in Boston. She also completed the Association of Research Libraries’ Library Leadership for New Managers Program.
