Brown, Hepburn seek 2019-20 ALA presidency

CHICAGO – Wanda Brown, Director of Library Services at the C.G. O’Kelly Library, Winston-Salem State University, Winston Salem, North Carolina, and Peter Hepburn, Head Librarian, College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, California, are the candidates for the 2019-20 presidency of the American Library Association (ALA).

Wanda Brown

Brown has been an ALA member for 30 years and is an active member of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), the Association for Libraries Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS), and the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA). She has held multiple leadership positions within each division

Brown has held numerous positions with the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) including her current service as treasurer (2016-2018) and service as president (2014-16), treasurer (1992-96) and two terms as an Executive Board member (2001-03, 2014-16). She was the 2011-13 president of the North Carolina Library Association and has held various other positions with NCLA, including treasurer (1991-98) and he 2005-09 chair of the Finance Committee.

She is the 2015 recipient of the DEMCO/ALA Black Caucus Award for Excellence, the 2013 BCALA Leadership Award, and the 2012 BCALA Distinguished Service Award. In 2009, she received University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Kovacs Award for Outstanding Alumni Achievement, and in 2013, UNCG awarded Brown with the School of Education Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award.

“It is truly an honor to be nominated as a candidate for the office of President of the American Library Association,” said Brown. "I am encouraged by the work of our library professionals; how we continue to influence daily the lives of others; how we impact the communities we live in and aid in shaping all our futures. Together we have made a difference and together we can do even more. For it is now more than ever that we as information specialists are needed to be examples, standing up for what we know to be the right.”

Brown holds a BA in English, with a minor in psychology from Winston-Salem State University, and an MLS from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Peter Hepburn

An ALA member for 17 years, Hepburn just completed a term on the ALA Executive Board (2014-17) and has served on the ALA Council from 2010 – present. He has served on numerous ALA Committees and task forces, including the Budget, Analysis and Review Committee (BARC), Committee on Membership Meetings, Committee on Committees, Conference Committee, and Election Committee. He just finished serving as chair of the Task Force on the Context of Future Accreditation and served on the Task Force on Electronic Member Participation.

Hepburn has also held various leadership positions within the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT), and the New Members Round Table (NMRT).

He has been a frequent presenter at state, regional, national and international conferences where he has spoken on digital projects, collaboration in libraries, and accreditation.

Hepburn is an active member of four ALA divisions – American Association of School Librarians (AASL), Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), the Library Information & Technology Association (LITA), and the Public Library Association (PLA).  He is also a member of the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT), the Retired Members Round Table (RMRT), New Members Round Table (NMRT), Sustainability Round Table (SustainRT), Intellectual Freedom Round Table (NMRT), Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT), and the Federal and Armed Forced Libraries Round Table (FAFLRT).

“Libraries remain a valuable, much-needed contributor to our communities and institutions at a time when there is much turmoil in the country,” said Hepburn. “ALA itself is undergoing a period of transition.  My life in libraries has included academic and public libraries, and my involvement within ALA is both broad-ranging and deep. My experiences and knowledge will serve our members well. It is an honor to be nominated. I look forward to working with you and on behalf of our library users as your ALA president.”

Hepburn holds a BA in Political Science with a minor in French from the University of Victoria (British Columbia) and an MLIS from McGill University, Montreal.

Brown and Hepburn will engage in a candidates’ forum from 4:30 - 5:30 pm on Saturday, February 10, during the 2018 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Denver. The candidates will each have an opportunity to make a statement and will answer questions from the audience.

Ballot mailing for the 2018 ALA election will begin on March 12, 2018 and will run through April 4, 2018. Individuals must be members in good standing as of January 31, 2018 in order to vote in the 2018 ALA election.