Candidates announced for 2019 Public Library Association board election

CHICAGO – The Public Library Association (PLA) Nominating Committee has unveiled the slate of candidates for the Association’s 2019 Election. This year six nominees will stand for three positions on the PLA Board of Directors: president and two directors-at-large. The candidate elected in each race will serve a three-year term from June 2019 through June 2022. The candidate elected to the office of president will serve one year as president-elect (2019-2020), one year as president (2020-2021) and one year as immediate past-president (2021–2022). The candidates and the offices for which they are running are listed below. Please click on the name of each candidate to learn more about them.

Board Candidates

President

Michelle Jeske; City Librarian; Denver (Colo.) Public Library

Manya Shorr; Library Director; Fort Worth (Texas) Public Library

Director-at-Large (Seat A)

Amita Lonial; Assistant Library Director; Tacoma (Wash.) Public Library

Meaghan O’Connor; Director, Service Design & Engagement; (Washington) D.C. Public Library

Director-at-Large (Seat B)

Toby Greenwalt; Director of Digital Strategy; Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (Pa.)

Jason Kucsma; Deputy Director; Toledo Lucas County (Ohio) Public Library

PLA sincerely thanks the members of its 2019 Nominating Committee, listed below, for their service:

• Felton Thomas, Jr., Chair, Cleveland (Ohio) Public Library
• Grant C. Lynch, Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library 
• Larry P. Neal, Clinton-Macomb (Mich.) 

Ballot Measure

Also on the ballot for the 2019 Election is a measure which proposes adding a new position, Fiscal Officer, to the PLA Board. The Fiscal Officer would also serve as chair of the PLA Budget & Finance Committee and as liaison to the American Library Association (ALA) Budget Analysis & Review Committee. If the ballot measure is approved, the first fiscal officer will be appointed by the immediate past-president to a three-year term beginning July 2019. For more information on the ballot measure, including the proposed changes to the PLA Bylaws, click here.

Voting will begin on Mar. 11 and close on Apr. 3, 2019. Eligible members will be sent their voting credentials via email between Mar. 11 and Mar. 13, 2019.

Running for the board of directors is just one of several ways for members to become more closely involved with PLA. Click here to learn more.

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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.