ALA announces Center for the Future of Libraries advisory group

CHICAGO — Libraries and the communities that they serve are undergoing transformational changes. Addressing those changes, the American Library Association’s Center for the Future of Libraries was established to provide library planners and community leaders with information resources and tools to help them better understand the trends reshaping their libraries and communities and help them incorporate foresight into their planning processes.

Now, as the center enters its second year of formation, an association-wide group of experts, broadly representative of the many constituencies within the library community, has been identified to advise and shape the center’s work.

This new Advisory Group will bring important thought leadership to the Center’s efforts and advance a new focus on innovation and library transformation.

“As Libraries Transform and ALA amplifies that message to build a nation of active advocates, the Center for the Future of Libraries becomes a key service to members,” stated Sari Feldman, ALA President. “The Center for the Future of Libraries Advisory Group can insure that libraries, librarians, and library workers have the tools needed to create individual opportunity and community progress in a rapidly changing environment.”

Members of the Center for the Future of Libraries Advisory Group will include:

Carson Block, Carson Block Consulting Inc. (Colorado)

Ameet Doshi, user experience and assessment librarian, Georgia Institute of Technology

Carolyn Foote, district librarian, Eanes ISD Westlake High School (Texas)

Toby Greenwalt, director of digital strategy and technology integration, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Sandra Hirsh, professor and director, San Jose State University School of Information

Joseph Janes, associate professor, University of Washington Information School

Susan Kent, S. R. Kent LLC (California)

Bohyun Kim, associate director for library Applications and knowledge systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore - HSHSL

Richard Kong, deputy director, Skokie Public Library (Illinois)

Amanda Kordeliski, teacher librarian, Norman Public Schools (Oklahoma)

S. Bryce Kozla, youth services librarian II, Washington County Cooperative Library Services

(Oregon)

David Lankes, professor, Syracuse University School of Information Studies

Kate McNair, teen services coordinating librarian, Johnson County Library (Kansas)

Willie Miller, assistant librarian, IUPUI University Library (Indiana)

Ramiro Salazar, director, San Antonio Public Library (Texas)

Brian Schottlaender, university librarian, University of California-San Diego

Advisory Group members have been selected based on their high level of expertise, knowledge of emerging trends across the library environment, and commitment to library innovation.

The Advisory Group will be chaired by Susan Kent with Julius Jefferson serving as the ALA Executive Board’s liaison to the group.