Audra Caplan elected PLA vice-president
Contact: Louisa Worthington
Public Library Association
(312) 280-5024
NEWS
For Immediate Release
May 1, 2009
CHICAGO– Audra Caplan, director of the Harford County (Md.) Public Library, has been elected vice-president/president-elect of the Public Library Association (PLA). Caplan will become PLA president-elect in July 2009 and will assume the PLA presidency in July 2010 for a one-year term.
“I am extremely honored to represent this extraordinary organization in this position. I am looking forward to working with the membership and developing partnerships with colleagues across the association as we face the challenges ahead.” said Audra Caplan.
Caplan has been a member of PLA and the American Library Association (ALA) for more than 24 years, serving on numerous PLA, Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) and ALA committees, including the PLA Board of Directors, the YALSA Board of Directors and as an ALA Councilor. In addition, Caplan served as president of YALSA from 2003-2004.
Prior to her current position as director, Caplan was the associate director of Harford County Public Library. She also held positions at Baltimore County Public Library and Enoch Pratt Free Library. Caplan is an active leader in her local community and serves on several boards, including the Healthy Harford: Nutrition and Physical Activity Advisory Board, United Way Advisory Board, and Harford County: Economic Advisory Board. She has also been a mentor for the Maryland Library Leadership Institute, an initiative of the Maryland Library Association. In 2008 she was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
Caplan earned her master’s degree in library science from the University of Maryland, College Park and a bachelor’s degree in humanities from the University of Maryland.
PLA is a division of the American Library Association. PLA's core purpose is to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve. Its mission is to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services.
