ALA Nominating Committee seeks ALA President-elect & ALA Councilor at Large candidates

The Nominating Committee for the American Library Association election is seeking nominees for the positions of ALA president-elect and councilor-at-large on the 2026 spring ballot. The ALA thrives thanks to the energy, diversity, and commitment of its members and leaders. The Nominating Committee encourages members to consider serving the association in leadership positions. The association should reflect the diversity of its membership, including diverse experiences, races, genders, ethnicity, and both new and experienced members. 

The Nominating Committee will select candidates to run for president-elect and no fewer than 18 candidates for the 12 at-large council seats to be filled in the 2026 spring election (ALA Bylaws, Article VI. Council Section 2.E.). 

The president is the association's chief spokesperson and supports advancing the mission of ALA. The president-elect will serve a three-year term: as president-elect in 2026-27, as president in 2027-28, and as immediate past president in 2028-29. 

The ALA Council is the policy making body of ALA. The councilors-at-large will serve three-year terms, 2026-29, beginning after the 2026 ALA Annual Conference and ending at the adjournment of the 2029 Annual Conference. 

For more information, including submission of the ALA Candidate Biographical Form, visit the ALA Election Website. 

The deadline to submit nominations and forms is September 15, 2025. 

The Nominating Committee may ask for additional information and/or schedule interviews about an individual's candidacy for a leadership position. Members will be notified of their candidacy status after the close of the nomination period. Members who did not complete a nomination form during the nomination period or were not selected by the Nominating Committee may run for office by petition. Members who are interested in running by petition may do so on October 1, 2025. 

Members may recommend potential nominees or ask questions via e-mail to any member of the Nominating Committee: 

Edward Sanchez (Chair) 
Head, Library Information Technology
Marquette University - Raynor Library 
Milwaukee, WI
edward.sanchez@marquette.edu 

Tarida Anantachai 
Director, Talent Management
North Carolina State University Libraries 
Raleigh, NC
tananta@ncsu.edu 

Leslie Campbell Hime  
Manager (retired)
Richland Public Library
Richland, WA 
lesliecampb@gmail.com 

Leah Richardson
Director of Archives and Special Collections
George Washington University Libraries
Washington D.C.
leahr@gwu.edu  

Rachel Fleming  
Scholarly Communications Librarian
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 
Chattanooga, TN 
rachel.fleming.mls@gmail.com 

Richenda Hawkins
Head, Library Experience and Access Department
Oregon State University Libraries 
Corvallis, OR
richenda.hawkins@oregonstate.edu  

Ann K. Symons
ALA Past President
Douglas, AK 
ann.symons@gmail.com 

Ed Garcia
Library Director
Cranston Public Library
Cranston, RI
edlibrary401@gmail.com  

Gavin Downing
School Librarian 
Kent School District
Federal Way, WA 
gavin.downing@gmail.com