Hodges named new Communications AED for ALA

Contact: Larra Clark


312-280-5043

ALA News Release


For Immediate Release


July 31, 2001

Hodges named new Communications AED for ALA

Gerald Hodges has been appointed Associate Executive Director for Communications and Marketing for the American Library Association (ALA). He has worked at the ALA for the past 12 years and most recently served as director of the Office of Chapter Relations/ Membership Marketing.

"We were all pleased Gerald threw his hat in the ring for this position," said ALA Executive Director William Gordon. "In a member-driven association, Gerald's experience and skills are a perfect fit for this critical position."

Under Hodges' leadership in membership recruitment and retention, ALA has grown from under 50,000 members to more than 63,000 members, and the member retention rate has increased to 88 percent from 80 percent.

"Since ALA will always need new leaders, I have placed a high priority on recruiting students to membership early in their careers. This also has forced us to make certain that our marketing messages are fresh, timely and pertinent," Hodges said. ALA student membership has grown from approximately 2,000 to more than 7,000 during his tenure.

Prior to working at ALA, Hodges was a library educator at the University of Iowa and worked in school and academic libraries in Florida and New Jersey. His ALA member involvement included a term on Council and election as president of the Young Adult Library Services Association in 1989.

Hodges received his master's degree in Library Science from Rutgers and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida, Gainesville. He also has a master's in Latin American History from the University of Florida.