Mission vs. Means: Staying True to the Library Mission with Ever-Changing Resources
Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen and ALA President Sam Helmick will be in conversation exploring the evolving role of libraries as democratic institutions through the lens of leadership, resilience, and civic responsibility. Drawing on reflections from Newlen’s experience, the discussion examines how libraries navigate periods of social and political transformation while remaining anchored to their core mission of equitable access and community service. Participants will consider both the historical significance and contemporary challenges facing libraries as they approach milestone anniversaries and reflect on strategies for sustaining library workers and the communities they serve in times of cultural strain.
Objectives:
- Examine key lessons that highlight leadership during times of social and political change
- Assess the unique positioning of libraries and articulate strategic opportunities for libraries to strengthen civic engagement and community resilience
- Formulate approaches that library workers can use to maintain their effectiveness and well-being while navigating ongoing cultural challenges
Keynote Speaker: Robert R. Newlen
Robert R. Newlen was appointed Principal Deputy Librarian of Congress effective March 29, 2025, and is currently serving as Acting Librarian of Congress.
Newlen’s 46-year career at the Library of Congress has included leadership positions in the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the Law Library of Congress, and the Office of the Librarian. He most recently served as interim Director of CRS, returning from retirement in 2023 to help guide the service through a period of transition.
Newlen first joined the Library of Congress in 1975, when he accepted a position as a temporary clerk in the Inquiry Unit of CRS. During his 35-year tenure in CRS, he served as head, Inquiry Unit; supervisory team leader of the Senate Reference Center; head, CRS Legislative Relations Office; Deputy Assistant Director, Knowledge Services Group (KSG); and Assistant Director, KSG.
In 2010, Newlen was appointed Assistant Law Librarian for Collections, Outreach & Services and was the coordinator and principal fundraiser for the Library’s exhibit “Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor” in 2014. The following year, Newlen transferred to the Office of the Librarian to serve as the Library’s Chief of Staff and was subsequently appointed Deputy Librarian for Institutional Advancement. Following his retirement in 2017, he served as executive director and director of strategic initiatives for The Dwight D. Opperman Foundation in Phoenix.
Newlen has held a variety of positions in the American Library Association (ALA), which includes serving as a member of the Executive Board and senior trustee of the ALA Endowment. He was the recipient of the ALA Medal of Excellence in 2016 for “creative leadership of high order, particularly in library management” and, in 2021, he received the Joseph W. Lippincott Award for distinguished service in the profession of librarianship. Newlen has also been active in the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, and the Joint Council of Librarians of Color. For the State Department, he conducted seminars and training in library and information science in Belarus, Moldova, and Russia.
Newlen holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and French from Bridgewater College; a master’s degree from American University; and a master’s degree in library science from The Catholic University of America.
Keynote Speaker: Sam Helmick
Sam Helmick (they/them) is the 2025-2026 ALA President. Helmick served as a member on the ALA Executive Board and a past president of the Iowa Library Association. They previously served as former chair-elect on the Intellectual Freedom Round Table and chair of the Iowa Governor’s Commission of Libraries. They have served on committees for the Network of the National Library of Medicine, the Stonewall Book Awards, the ALA Policy Monitoring Committee, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Michael L. Printz Committee, the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) Sophie Brody Award Committee and the YALSA Fundraising Task Force. Helmick is a 2016 Emerging Leader, as well as an author, consultant, and instructor for social media marketing and graphic design.
Helmick holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Iowa Wesleyan University and a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois.
