Castle appointed to PPO post

Contact: Deb Robertson


Director, Public Programs Office


312-280-5057

For Immediate Release


June 3, 2005

Castle appointed to PPO post

CHICAGO - Lainie Castle has joined the staff of the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office as Program Officer/Communications, effective May 23. Her primary responsibility will be publicity and marketing for PPO projects and initiatives and the Cultural Communities Fund.

Most recently, Castle was assistant director for the ALA Development Office. Prior to joining ALA in 2001, she held a variety of marketing and development positions with Smith Bucklin and Associates, the Arthritis Foundation and Health Evaluation Programs. She holds a bachelor's of fine arts degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and is pursuing a master's degree in library and information science at Dominican University.

"In the Public Programs Office, we are looking forward to working with a valued colleague in a new way," said Deb Robertson, director of the ALA Public Programs Office. "Lainie brings a broad understanding of the Association, the library market and the funding community to PPO."

The ALA Public Programs Office has a 15-year track record in developing library programming initiatives, including LIVE! @ your library, traveling exhibitions, book and film discussion series on humanities themes and other programs. More than 8,000 librarians and libraries have participated, and grants totaling more than $10 million from government, foundation and corporate sources have supported the programming with an estimated average of 3-1 local match. At least 10 million individuals have participated in library programming supported by Public Programs Office initiatives.

Castle can be reached at 800-545-2433 ext. 5055 or 312-280-5055. Her email address is
lcastle@ala.org.