For immediate release | October 7, 2025
Run for ALA President-elect or Councilor-at-Large by petition
CHICAGO - ALA members may seek the positions of president-elect or councilor-at-large by petition. Individuals not selected by the Nominating Committee, or those who choose to run independently, may file an electronic petition. The ALA Nominating Committee will begin notifying nominated candidates by the end of October 2025.
Members who are interested in running by petition may do so by completing an e-petition form:
- President-elect with the signatures of no fewer than 200 ALA current personal members.
- Councilor-at-Large with the signatures of no fewer than 25 ALA current personal members.
View instructions on how to create an e-petition.
In addition to the petition itself, members must complete a Candidate Biographical Information Form. The information provided on this form will be used to create the web ballot. Upon completion of the petition process, all candidates are presented equally on the ballot, with no distinctions made between petition and nominated candidates.
The petition period for the 2026 election opens October 7, 2025 and will close on December 12, 2025.
Ballot mailing for the 2026 ALA election will begin on March 9, 2026, and will run through April 1, 2026. Renew your membership by January 31, 2026 to ensure that you receive your ballot for the 2026 ALA election. Renew your membership online or by calling 1-800-545-2433, option 1.
About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For nearly 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.
