Jamar Rahming Named PLA 2026-2027 President

CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) has announced the results of its 2025 election. Members elected Jamar Rahming, Executive Director, Wilmington Institute Free Library, Delaware, to the office of 2026–2027 PLA president. Rahming will serve a three-year term beginning this June, including one-year stints as president-elect (2025–2026), president (2026–2027), and immediate past-president (2027–2028).

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to step into the role of the president-elect of the Public Library Association,” Rahming said upon learning the election results. “As we navigate through these testing times within our industry, it is crucial for us to rise to the occasion and continue serving our communities with unwavering commitment, despite facing constraints in resources and morale. Therefore, I am eager to work closely with the PLA Board to provide assistance to our fellow professionals across the country in tackling these obstacles. Together, we will uphold our longstanding legacy of community empowerment and the preservation of democratic principles.”

Rahming has worked in the library industry for 20 years in eight different states, including a fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution. He currently serves as the executive director of the Wilmington Institute Free Library, an award-winning institution—recipient of the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Services; 2022 John Dana Cotton Award; 2024 "Library Journal" Marketer of the Year; and recognized by Fodor’s Travel as one of the most beautiful libraries in the nation.

Rahming was celebrated by "Library Journal" magazine through the Movers & Shakers 2023 Community Builders award for his innovative efforts in facilitating some of the most fascinating programs the library industry has seen. Most recently, Rahming was named 2024 CEO of the Year by Delaware Business Times and was a recipient of the 2025 I Love My Librarian Award by the American Library Association. Most importantly, Rahming believes that well-managed, well-marketed libraries and fried chicken are the keys to a well-functioning democracy.

The following candidates also were elected to the PLA Board of Directors:

Director-at-Large Seat A (Small/Rural Library)

• Maria Palacio, Director, Town of Acton Libraries, Massachusetts

Director-at-Large Seat B

• Shauntee Burns-Simpson, Director of Youth & Family Services, District of Columbia Public Library

Each will serve a three-year term beginning in July 2025.

PLA thanks all the candidates who stood for election, as well as all the members who voted. Their efforts to impact and enhance PLA are deeply valuable to the future of the organization and for public libraries nationwide.

Special thanks to the 2025 Nominating Committee, chaired by Dr. Maria McCauley, PLA Past President (2022–2023), for its outstanding work.

About the Public Library Association

The Public Library Association (PLA) is the largest association dedicated to supporting the unique and evolving needs of public library professionals. Founded in 1944, PLA serves nearly 10,000 members in public libraries large and small in communities across the United States and Canada, with a growing presence around the world. PLA strives to help its members shape the essential institution of public libraries by serving as an indispensable ally for public library leaders. For more information about PLA, contact the PLA office at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or pla@ala.org.