Helmick inaugurated 2025-2026 ALA President

PHILADELPHIA — Sam Helmick, Community & Access Services Coordinator at Iowa City Public Library, was inaugurated ALA President for 2025-2026 on June 30 at the ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia.

During the inauguration, Helmick unveiled their presidential theme, “Our Stories Are Worth Sharing,” anchored by a framework called The CASE for Libraries, focusing on Community Building, Advocacy, Storytelling, and Education/Economic Development.

“At the heart of our democracy is the unalienable notion that every person matters—that each voice is worthy of being heard, and each individual deserves access to opportunity,” Helmick said. “Since the earliest days of our nation, libraries have stood as living testaments to this promise, offering access to information as a pathway to participation and self-determination. Today, as our communities face new challenges, it is more vital than ever that we equip library workers and the American public to share their stories—to remind policymakers that libraries are not a luxury, but a national value grounded in our country’s founding vision of equal access for all.”

Helmick’s presidential initiatives intentionally build upon and elevate current ALA assets, offering members and communities practical tools to advocate for libraries and their essential role in society. These initiatives complement ongoing efforts like Show Up for Our Libraries, Unite Against Book Bans, Policy Corps, Chapter Relations, ALA Builds Business, and the Office for Intellectual Freedom—empowering members, library advocates, and the public to use their voices in defense of shared values.

Helmick’s presidential initiatives will include:

The CASE for Libraries Monthly Virtual Town Hall Series:
A structured monthly virtual series connecting ALA members with existing resources, partners, and leadership across the association. The town halls will explore best practices in community outreach, advocacy, and storytelling, with a particular focus on underrepresented voices and rural and small libraries.

Storytelling, Media Training, and the ALA Story Bank:
This initiative will equip library workers and advocates with media training, storytelling toolkits, and practical resources to amplify their local impact. The initiative will include training in framing narratives for policymakers, developing effective media engagement strategies, and leveraging the ALA Story Bank to elevate diverse voices.

Membership Engagement and Library Worker Well-Being:
To foster member retention and professional sustainability, this initiative will invest in programming and resources centered on trauma-informed workplace practices, rural and underrepresented library staff support, and micro-grants for members to engage in advocacy and storytelling efforts at both national and local levels.

State Chapter Advocacy and Rural Partnerships:
In collaboration with state chapters, this initiative will fund field visits, joint advocacy training, story collection events, and programming partnerships with a strong emphasis on supporting rural libraries and library workers in underfunded regions.

“There is profound power in storytelling,” Helmick said. “By equipping library workers and communities to share their experiences, we not only advocate for our profession—we affirm the ideals that libraries have embodied since the founding of this nation: that access to information is access to opportunity. Together, we ensure that every person has the chance to read, to be heard, and to participate fully in civic life.”

Helmick has served in a variety of leadership positions within ALA, including on the ALA Executive Board, the Intellectual Freedom Committee, and the Freedom to Read Foundation. They are a past president of the Iowa Library Association, a former chair of the Iowa Governor’s Commission of Libraries, and a nationally recognized voice for intellectual freedom, rural advocacy, and community-centered library service.

Helmick holds a Bachelor of Arts from Iowa Wesleyan University and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

ABOUT AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For nearly 150 years, ALA has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.