Officially Speaking | May 2026

It is with a great sense of gratitude and satisfaction that I write my final message as the 2025-2026 President of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). It is hard to believe that my term as your president is shortly coming to an end and that I will be handing over the gavel.

As of June 30, 2026, at the end of the ALA Annual Conference, my esteemed colleague Ariana Hussain will assume the role of President. I cannot think of anyone more qualified and prepared to serve as your 2026-2027 President. Indeed, all the members of the ALSC Executive Committee and Board of Directors with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working, as well as the incoming members, are eminently qualified to help lead ALSC into the future. My thanks and best wishes also go out to the task force chairs and members, Priority Group Consultants, process committee co-chairs and members, and awards committee chairs and members whose terms will be completed at the end of ALA Annual and who have served with diligence, enthusiasm, and commitment.

It has been an absolute JOY working with so many dedicated staff and members during this transition year. The true meaning of synchronicity was experienced in every meeting and session this past year as we worked together. As we move further into the reunification of the ALSC and YALSA divisions, our members will experience a smoother transition of committee structures and appointments due to this synchronicity.

As I transition to the role of Immediate Past-President, I am truly humbled and honored to join the outstanding group of individuals who have served ALSC in this role. As I look back over the past year, I am immensely proud of all that we have accomplished.

Finally, I would simply like to say, “Thank you!” to every ALSC member for allowing me the privilege of serving as your president. It is an experience I will never forget and which I will treasure for the rest of my life. You, the members, are the reason our division exists, and our shared mission is the reason we, as members, do what we do. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Be sure to join us in the celebration of all things ALSC during 2026 ALA Annual Conference. Please arrange your travel so that you can attend these special ALSC events in Chicago:

Friday, June 26, 1 - 4 pm, Deep Dive into Discovery: Celebrating 25 Years of the Sibert Medal (Pre-Conference - Ticketed Event). Location: Marriott Marquis, Daniel Burnham 
Judy Ehrenstein is chair of the Sibert Award 25th Anniversary Task Force.

Sunday, June 28, 1 - 3:30 pm: Pura Belpré Awards and 30th Anniversary Celebracíon. Location: Hilton Chicago, Waldorf Room

Sunday, June 28, 6 - 10:30 pm: Newbery Caldecott Legacy Banquet (Ticketed Event) Location: Hilton Chicago, International Ballroom

Monday, June 29, 8 - 10:30 am: 2026 ALSC Awards Program. Location: Marriott Marquis, Great Lakes ABC

Monday, June 29, 10:30 - 11:30 am: 2026 ALSC/YALSA Membership Meeting. Location: Marriott Marquis, Glessner House

Monday, June 29, 1 - 2:30 pm: Charlemae Hill Rollins President’s Program: “Picture Books for All: Celebrating the Joy of Visual Literacy” features three award-winning picture book artists—Cátia Chien, Vashi Harrison, and Kadir Nelson—and moderator Leonard S. Marcus. The program is organized by Jené Brown and Elisa Gall on behalf of 2026 ALSC Board President Dr. Claudette McLinn. The Charlemae Hill Rollins Endowment Fund supports the annual program. Location: Marriott Marquis, Great Lakes AB

Check the scheduler for more events and information, and to confirm all event locations.

I look forward to seeing you in Chicago this June for #ALSCJOY and hugs!—Claudette S. McLinn, Ed.D., MLIS, MS Ed Adm, ALSC President, 2025-2026

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In revisiting the past columns of ALSC vice president/president-elects, spring is often cited as a season of renewal, energy, and purpose. Looking ahead through the lens of reunification, I feel optimistic about what we are building together as a division that serves children, teens, and their families.

The work is already in full swing. Our Reunification Working Group, Membership, Organizational Effectiveness (ALSC), Organization & Bylaws (YALSA), and other committees are moving with momentum, in preparation for September 1 when we officially become one division. I am deeply grateful for their hard work, deliberation, and transparency in communicating to our membership via meetings, town halls, ALA Connect, blog posts, and the Reunification FAQs. Gratitude also needs to be extended to every member who has run for election or stepped forward to get involved at this pivotal moment. I hope you find, as I do, contagious inspiration in President Dr. Claudette McLinn's call for #ALSCJOY and in the continued, forward-looking leadership of Past President Dr. Rob Bittner. The work is challenging, but deeply rewarding, and we will be stronger for it.

There are meaningful ways to engage right now. Registration is open for both the 2026 ALA Annual (Chicago, June 25–29) and ALSC Institute (Buffalo, October 1–3), which will include a teen services education track and a stand-alone Teen Services Development Day alongside other programming. These are invaluable opportunities to come together, make connections, rejuvenate, and come away with applicable practices and programs. I cannot wait to be in community with you all. Two Friends of ALSC Institute Scholarships of $1,000 each will be available to current members of ALSC and/or YALSA. An official announcement is coming soon. Please share information about our reunification, these events, and funding opportunities widely with your networks — whether local and state organizations or library school students — it may make all the difference in someone's growth, and in the growth of our field. Please also consider donating to the Friends of ALSC, whose support allows us to respond nimbly to our community's needs as we navigate our funding streams and budgetary guidelines.

I am currently making appointments for our process committees and ask those with capacity to complete the volunteer form. If you have already submitted one, thank you for your patience as we thoughtfully match members' strengths to our needs. While some committees have been sunset in alignment with ALA Forward and our organizational capacity, there remains space for everyone through unified committees helping redefine our future, through interest groups designed to be flexible and responsive, and in appointments as liaisons to ALA.  

I would like to reiterate from my previous column that I am proud of us. As a whole, we show up daily for our communities in championing literacy, access, and inclusive literature and programming in commitment to the children, teens, and families counting on us. We will continue to do so as our umbrella grows wider, always toward epistemic justice and civic engagement. Together.—Ariana Hussain, ALSC Vice President/President-Elect, 2025-2026

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It is always an honor to represent ALSC as your Division Councilor. There were four virtual meetings in ALA Council’s Winter Session this year; and a recap of Council actions follows.

Virtual Council Meeting I, January 21, 2026

Committee on Organization, ALA CD#27 
Council voted to approve Motions 1–10 as outlined in Appendices. Summary of Motions 1-10:
1.    Rename the Budget Analysis and the Review Committee to Finance Committee and update the charge. 
2.    Merge the Committee on the Status of Women in Libraries and the Committee on Diversity and dissolve the Status of Women committee; modify the charge of the Committee on Diversity. 
3.    Merge the Committee on Professional Ethics and the Intellectual Freedom Committee and dissolve the Committee on Professional Ethics; modify Intellectual Freedom Committee’s charge. 
4.    Merge the Council Training and Engagement Committee and the Leadership Development Committee; rename to Leadership Development and Training Committee. 
5.    Merge the American Libraries Advisory Committee and the Publishing Committee; rename to Publications Committee. 
6.    Discontinue the Information Technology Policy Advisory Committee and move the E-Rate Task Force to the Committee on Legislation. 
7.    Discontinue the Office for Diversity, Outreach, and Literacy Advisory Committee and move the EDI Assembly, SRIDP Subcommittee, and Spectrum Advisory Committee to the Committee on Diversity. 
8.    Discontinue the Public and Cultural Programs Advisory Committee. 
9.    Discontinue Public Awareness Committee and modify charge of Committee on Library Advocacy. 
10.    Reduce Policy Monitoring Committee membership from 11 to 5.

ALA Board Eligibility & Elections, ALA CD#34
Council voted to direct the Bylaws Committee, Committee on Organization, and Policy Monitoring Committee to develop and present updated board eligibility requirements by June 2026.

Amended Eligibility Criteria: ALA Executive Board Eligibility shall be limited to members who served on ALA Council, or in an elected ALA Division or ALA Round Table leadership position, or as a chair of a Standing Committee of the Association within the past five (5) years of nomination.

ALA Council directed the ALA Bylaws Committee, the ALA Committee on Organization, and the Policy Monitoring Committee to advance the Committee Recommendations (Executive Board Doc 10.4) to discontinue the Committee on Committees and distribute its work to the Presidential Advisory Committee or the ALA Nominating Committee.

Public Good Core Values, ALA CD#35
Council approved the Public Good Core Values Interpretation.

Virtual Council Meeting II, January 22, 2026

ALA Membership Committee, ALA CD#30
Council referred back to the Membership Committee for further consideration and a vote at a future ALA Council meeting.

Code of Conduct Committee, ALA CD#39
Council approved the establishment of a task force to comprehensively review all existing codes of conduct and address inconsistencies and gaps between the in-person, virtual meeting, and online codes of conduct. The task force will report back to ALA Council at winter meeting 2027.

Equity Interpretation Working Group, ALA CD#35.1
Council approved the Equity Core Values Interpretation

Virtual Council Meeting III, January 28, 2026

ALA Election Committee, ALA CD#11.1
Elected to 2026–2029 Executive Board:
•    Lesliediana Jones 
•    Shauntee Burns-Simpson

Bylaws Committee, ALA CD#25
1. The committee worked on clarification of what happens when the position of ALA president-elect is vacated; 2. Clarification of the distinction between a Session and a Meeting of Council; and 3. Election of At-Large Members to the ALA Executive Board and proposed revisions to the ALA Bylaws. The ALA Council approved revisions to those articles of the ALA Bylaws that go to the ALA membership for a vote on the Spring 2026 ballot

Endowment Policy Change, ALA CD#13.1
The ALA Council approved proposed revisions to ALA Policy 13.4.1 (G) Long-Term Investment Funds: Use, Withdrawal, and Repayment as presented:

Use, Withdrawal, and Repayment Withdrawals from the Long-Term Investment Fund above and beyond the annually determined standard payout rate of 3% - 5% of the five-year trailing calendar quarterly (20) rolling average net asset balance must be approved by the Executive Board in consultation with the Endowment Trustees. Approved withdrawals will require repayment with the terms to be recommended by management and approved by the Executive Board. Under exceptional circumstances, the repayment requirement may be suspended or waived by the Executive Board in consultation with the Endowment Trustees. The annual, standard payout will not require repayment.

Virtual Council Meeting IV, March 10, 2026

Policy Monitoring Report, ALA CD#17
The ALA Council approved the adoption of the Dissolution Policy that was drafted by the Executive Board at the direction of Council upon approval of motions contained in the ALA Policy Manual Revision Working Group report provided during ALA Annual 2025. This policy establishes the criteria and procedural steps to be followed before the American Library Association (ALA) Executive Board may consider or act upon a formal motion for dissolution. The intent is to ensure transparency, compliance with applicable laws and governing documents, and responsible stewardship of the Association’s mission, assets, and obligations.  The Policy Monitoring Committee will subsequently insert the approved text of the Dissolution Policy into ALA Policy Manual Section A Chapter 19 as subchapter 19.2.

Resolution to Support and Commend the Work of Librarians and Institutions Preserving Government Information since January 21, 2025, ALA CD#49
The ALA Council approved the Resolution to Support and Commend the Work of Archivists, Librarians, and Institutions Preserving Government Information since January 21, 2025

Council voted to adopt the following Memorial Resolutions:
Memorial Resolution #1 honoring John Spears
Memorial Resolution #2 honoring Pamela Bluh van Oosten
Memorial Resolution #3 honoring Dr. Carolyn Brodie
Memorial Resolution #4 honoring John Anthony Tuggle
Memorial Resolution #5 honoring Fred McCrae Peterson 
Memorial Resolution #6 honoring Dr. Alma Dawson
Memorial Resolution #7 honoring Danica Sheridan

Agendas and all Council Documents for the ALA Winter Council Session Meetings can be found here.  Please feel free to contact me if I can answer any questions.—Julie Roach, ALSC Division Councilor

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Many thanks to the following generous contributors to Friends of ALSC. To learn how you can support ALSC, visit our website.

Gold Circle - $500 to $999

Ed Spicer

Friends Circle - up to $99

Lucia Gonzalez

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