PLA Board of Directors

Our Work

A full description of the work of the PLA Board of Directors including roles, expectations, and more can be found in the PLA Board Orientation Manual.

Deliverables and outcomes:

  • Assume responsibility for developing, implementing and advancing the PLA strategic plan
  • Review, assess, and oversee policies and actions taken by the association
  • Annually, approve the PLA budget and consider and take action on funding for new initiatives
  • Support PLA’s fundraising and sustainability efforts by contributing financially, recruiting new donors, and helping PLA liaison with library industry vendors
  • Be available to members, individuals and groups for discussion and concerns
  • Represent PLA within ALA and externally to peers, partners, and others, as requested, for instance by participating in related ALA groups, presenting at state and regional conferences, and responding to the media
  • Complete an annual assessment of the performance of the PLA Executive Director

Expected time commitment:

  • Prepare for and attend four PLA Board meetings annually, held at the ALA Midwinter Meetings and Annual Conferences as well as in the spring and fall at varying dates and locations
  • Spend additional time at the ALA Midwinter Meeting and ALA Annual Conference for other PLA meetings as needed and representing PLA at ALA events, as required
  • Attend the biennial PLA Conference and be prepared to represent the Board and PLA to the media, to exhibitors and sponsors, and at general sessions and author/special events
  • Respond regularly to requests for feedback from the PLA Executive Director and staff, including voting on all interim Board actions

Desired skills, knowledge, or experience:

  • Ability to function well as a team, participate in civil and respectful discussion and debate, and lead group deliberations to successful decisions
  • Experience participating on corporate and/or nonprofit boards and familiarity with board members’ duty of care, duty of loyalty, and duty of obedience (see the National Council of Nonprofits)
  • Long-term knowledge of and involvement in PLA through varying committee, task force, speaker, and other roles
  • Broad knowledge of the public library field and current/emerging issues facing the profession, including those impacting diverse library types and library professionals
  • Experience in community and legislative advocacy, fundraising, and public speaking

Roster

Sonia A. Alcantara-Antoine (President, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Michael John Lambert (President-Elect, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Clara Nalli Bohrer (Fiscal Officer, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025)
Dr. Maria McCauley (Past-President, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Ms. Deb Sica (Division Councilor, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026)
Michael R. Colford (Director-at-Large, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025)
Erica Freudenberger (Director-at-Large, July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2024)
Mary Ellen Icaza (Director-at-Large, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025)
Mrs. Tamara M. King (Director-at-Large, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026)
Dr. Brandy A. McNeil (Director-at-Large, November 2, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Veronda J. Pitchford (Director-at-Large, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026)
Mary Davis Fournier (Ex-Officio Member, June 14, 2021, to June 30, 2027)
Megan C. Stewart (Staff Liaison, April 20, 2016, to June 30, 2025)
Talaisha Whitaker (Staff Liaison, May 22, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Mary-Clare Bietila (Staff, May 23, 2022, to June 30, 2025)
Larra Clark (Staff, October 1, 2017, to June 30, 2025)
Melissa Faubel Johnson (Staff, July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2025)
Abigail Gadomski (Staff, June 6, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Sara Goek (Staff, September 1, 2020, to June 30, 2025)
Mary R. Hirsh (Staff, July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2025)
Steven Hofmann (Staff, July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2025)
Kathleen M. Hughes (Staff, July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2025)
Katina Jones (Staff, May 23, 2022, to June 30, 2025)
Eliana Kleiman (Staff, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025)
Samantha Lopez (Staff, May 15, 2015, to June 30, 2025)
Angela Maycock (Staff, July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2025)
Mahogany Meeks (Staff, May 2, 2022, to June 30, 2025)

Displaying active committee roster as of 03/19/2024. Last retrieved on 03/19/2024. Members can log in and refresh the page to view full contact information for committee members.

Composition

The Board of Directors is elected by PLA Members. It consists of the President, the President-Elect, the Past-President, the ALA Division Councilor, six Directors-at-Large, and the PLA Executive Director. Meet the PLA Board!

Get Involved

To be a thriving, vibrant organization, PLA must have committed and active committee members. If you are interested in serving on a committee, please read and fill out the online volunteer form.

  • Volunteers are accepted on an ongoing basis.
  • Appointments are made by the PLA President and President-Elect, primarily in the spring.
  • Volunteers must be members of ALA and PLA.

Stay connected with fellow PLA members in the PLA Member Community on ALA Connect. PLA personal membership is required to participate.

Staff Liaison

Mary Davis Fournier
Executive Director
312-280-5056
mfournier@ala.org