Carolyn Anthony chosen as 2013-2014 PLA president

CHICAGO — Carolyn Anthony, director of the Skokie (Ill.) Public Library, has been elected the 2013-2014 president of the Public Library Association (PLA). Anthony acknowledged, "I am thrilled with the vote of confidence in my leadership abilities by the PLA membership and I look forward to orchestrating the teamwork that will enable us to address the challenges facing public libraries at the current time."

Anthony has been actively involved in PLA throughout her career, serving on the PLA Board from 1987–1989 and again from 2005–2009, chairing the Public Libraries Advisory Board, representing PLA at ALA’s Congress on Professional Education and now chairing PLA’s Leadership Task Force. She said, "PLA’s work in leadership development will continue to be important as we work with partners in the Edge initiative to establish technology benchmarks. Other outcome measures that capture the ways the public library adds value to people’s lives will also need to be developed." 

Anthony is a past-president of the Illinois Library Association and was Librarian of the Year in Illinois in 2003. Under her leadership, the Skokie Public Library was recognized by the Institute of Museum and Library Services with a National Medal in 2008. She and her husband have two daughters and enjoy vacationing in Maine. Find additional bio information here.

Anthony will become PLA president-elect at the conclusion of the 2012 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference this June and will assume the PLA presidency in June 2013 for one year, presiding over the PLA 2014 Conference. She said, "It will be exciting to convene the PLA Conference in Indianapolis in March 2014 as public librarians, trustees and vendors gather once again for the premier educational event for people associated with public libraries."

Also on the ballot this year were two board vacancies. Results are as follows:

•  Director-At-Large (Three-Year Term) – Felton Thomas Jr. , director of the Cleveland (Ohio) Public Library
• Director-At-Large (Three-Year Term) – Pamela Sandlian Smith, director of the Rangeview (Colo.) Library District/Anythink Libraries

PLA thanks all the candidates who stood for election as well as all the members who voted. Their efforts to impact and enhance PLA are extremely valuable to the future of the organization.

For more information about PLA, contact the PLA office at (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or visit www.pla.org.  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.