The vote was part of the just-completed ALA election: ALCTS: 91% yes LITA: 96% yes LLAMA: 96% yes Pending final approval by the ALA Committee on Organization and the ALA Council, ALCTS, LITA, and LLAMA will officially sunset August 31, 2020, and their members will be united in Core, the new division launching September 1. … Continue reading ALCTS, LITA, and LLAMA Members Vote to Create New ALA Division
Wong received 6,718 votes, while her opponent, Steven Yates, assistant director of University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies, received 2,448 votes. As ALA president, Wong will be the chief elected officer for the oldest and largest library association in the world. She will serve as president-elect for one year before stepping into … Continue reading Wong Wins 2021–2022 ALA Presidency
This year has already been historic for ALA. We have a new executive director and soon a new home in Chicago. These changes, along with the organizational review process, call for all of us to lend a hand. As a dedicated volunteer with leadership experience, I would like to work alongside you as your 2021–2022 … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Steven Yates
America’s libraries are the cornerstones of social democracy. We face many challenges as a nation: changing demographics and how to provide equitable access and service to all differing views about public support for public services privatization challenges to the freedom to read, write, and speak barriers to access shifting landscapes for publishing and digital access … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Patricia “Patty” Wong
Farrell received 5,221 votes, while her opponent, Andrew K. Pace, executive director of technical research at OCLC in Dublin, Ohio, received 2,735 votes. Farrell will step into her role as treasurer at the close of the 2019 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Upon learning the outcome of the election, Farrell remarked, “I am honored … Continue reading Farrell Elected ALA Treasurer
Jefferson received 5,108 votes, while his opponent, Lance Werner, executive director of Kent District Library in Comstock Park, Michigan, received 3,011 votes. As ALA president, Jefferson will be the chief elected officer for the oldest and largest library association in the world. He will serve as president-elect for one year before stepping into his role … Continue reading Jefferson Wins 2020–2021 ALA Presidency
It is an exciting time to be a member of the American Library Association (ALA). ALA can and will play an important role at this critical juncture in the history of our profession and our country, and it must stand united to speak with one voice: to advocate for the education of an informed citizenry; … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Julius C. Jefferson Jr.
The American Library Association (ALA) and libraries are in a unique position to help, heal, and lead. We must bring more civility and critical thought into the world through kindness, empathy, and love. Libraries are on the front line, doing an outstanding job of serving the underserved. But there is also an opportunity to bring … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Lance Werner
ALA is at a critical time with changes in Association leadership positions, increased operational costs, flat-to-decreasing membership, and declining revenue. Librarians and library workers have a variety of choices for professional development, service, and engagement, so ALA needs to adapt to the changing expectations of the library profession if it is to remain relevant and … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA Treasurer: Maggie Farrell
ALA’s treasurer does what you might expect, but there’s more to the job than many realize, especially in the coming three years. Of course, I will dedicate myself to ALA’s financial success. But I will also help make sure ALA invests its assets to align with key priorities: advocacy; information policy; professional and leadership development; … Continue reading Meet the Candidates for ALA Treasurer: Andrew K. Pace
A total of 39,634 failed to vote on the question. Yet of those who did, a majority stated they wanted the executive director to be a librarian. The question is not so much about a skill set but about the relevance of our degree and our profession. It makes one wonder how important the library … Continue reading The Librarian Identity Crisis
The proposed amendment to ALA Policy A.4.1.1, which would require ALA’s next executive director to hold an ALA-accredited master’s degree, was not approved. A minimum of 25% of ALA members was required to vote in order to carry the amendment forward. A total of 10,405 voted on this question, representing 20.79% of the eligible voters—3,890 … Continue reading ALA Announces Election Ballot Measure Results
