Hage announces candidacy for 2017-18 ALA presidency

CHICAGO – Christine Lind Hage, director of the Rochester Hills (Michigan) Public Library, has filed as a petition candidate for the 2017-18 presidency of the American Library Association.

Hage has been an ALA member since 1971. She is the immediate past president of United for Libraries (formerly the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations – ALTAFF) and served as the 1998-99 president of the Public Library Association (PLA). She has served on numerous committees throughout ALA, PLA and ALTA/ALTAFF, including several terms as both at-large councilor (1999-2002) and PLA division councilor (2002-05, 2008-14).

She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Oakland University and an AMLS from the University of Michigan. Hage is the author/co-author of several books, including "A Library Board’s Practical Guide to Hiring Outside Experts,” ALA/ALTA, 2008; "A Library Board’s Practical Guide to Finding the Right Library Director,” ALA, 2005; and "Public Library Start-Up Guide," ALA, 2004.

In addition to her service to ALA, Hage was named the 1997 Librarian of the Year by the Michigan Library Association of which she has been an active member since 1971. Hage is also active at the local level and served as the 2008-09 president of the Rochester (Michigan) Rotary and is a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. She is on the board of Rochester Area Neighborhood House, a local social service agency.

“I only belong to organizations whose work I truly believe in and when I belong, I take an active and leadership role in the organization. I believe in being an embedded librarian in any organization I join,” said Hage.

Hage has worked at all levels of public library service and successfully completed six library construction projects. She started the Clinton-Macomb Public Library from scratch by hiring the staff, developing public and service policies and building three buildings.

Hage will join presidential candidates Sara Laughlin and Lisa Hinchliffe, along with treasurer candidates Patricia (Patty) Wong and Susan Hildreth, in a candidates’ forum from 4:30 - 5:30 pm on Saturday, Jan. 9, during the 2016 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston. The candidates will each have an opportunity to make a statement and will answer questions from the audience as time permits.

Ballot mailing for the 2016 ALA election will begin on March 15, 2016 and will run through April 22, 2016. Individuals must be members in good standing as of Jan. 31, 2016 in order to vote in the ALA election.