Bohrer, Gonzalez running for 2013-16 ALA treasurer

CHICAGO — Clara Nalli Bohrer, director of the West Bloomfield Township Public Library in West Bloomfield, Mich., and Mario M. Gonzalez, executive director of the Passaic (N.J.) Public Library, are the candidates for treasurer of the American Library Association (ALA) for 2013-16.

A member of ALA since 1978, Bohrer has been a member (2009-11) and chair (2011-13) of the ALA Budget and Analysis Review Committee and a member of ALA’s Finance and Audit Committee (2011-13). She has served as a member of ALA’s Sullivan Award Jury (2009-10), its Public Awareness Committee (2005-08), its Nominating Committee (2001-02) and its Grolier Award Jury (2000-01).

“I am honored to stand for election as treasurer,” Bohrer said. “Our association continues to face difficult economic times and challenges. As treasurer, I would work across the association to strengthen and maximize our financial resources to support ALA’s strategic priorities and initiatives.”

Bohrer was PLA president (2004-05), as well as a member of its Board of Directors (2000-02, 2003-06) and the chair of its Budget and Finance Committee (2005-08), its representative to the ALA Planning and Budget Assembly (2005-08), a member of its Public Libraries Advisory Committee (2008-10, 2011-13), chair of the 2004 PLA National Conference and chair (2007-11) of the PLA/ALSC Every Child Ready to Read Evaluation Task Force. Bohrer also served on the ALSC Board of Directors (1997-2000).

In 2009, she received the ALA Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children.

Bohrer was president of the Michigan Library Association (1987-88) and served as a trustee of the Oakland County Library Board (2011-16).

As director of the West Bloomfield Township Public Library (WBTPL), an independent entity with taxing authority, Bohrer led a successful $10.8 million dollar capital campaign referendum to renovate and expand library facilities. During her tenure she has also successfully sought voter approval for increased operating funds. In 2010, the WBTPL was a recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Services from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Bohrer holds a BA (1973) and MA (1984) from the University of Michigan and an MLS from Wayne State University (1976).

An ALA member since 1985, Gonzalez has served on the Executive Board (2006-09), chair (2010-11) and member (2006-12) of the Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC), a member of the Finance & Audit Committee (2010-11) and has been a councilor-at-large since 1996.

Among his many responsibilities in ALA, he has been involved with the Planning and Budget Assembly (1997-99, 2006-12), the President’s Steering Committee (2009-11), the ALA President’s Task Force on Elections (2008-11), the ALA Campaign for America’s Libraries (2009-present), the ALA International Relations Committee (2004-06), the ALA Nominating Committee (2003-04), the ALA Committee on Committees (2002-03), the ALA Chapter Relations Committee (2001-03) and the ALA Literacy Assembly (1998-99).

"I am truly honored to be nominated as a candidate for the office of treasurer,” Gonzalez said. “I look forward to continuing to work hard for you by focusing our finances on member-driven priorities and to further strengthen our financial future."

Gonzalez has been on the Public Library Association Board of Directors (2004-07) and the PLA’s Leadership Committee (2007-present) and its Nominating Committee (2006). In addition, he has been on the Executive Board of RUSA (1992-95) and the Board of ASCLA (2000-03). He served as president of EMIERT Executive Board.

He has also been involved and held offices in affiliates, state and regional associations including the New Jersey Library Association, New York Library Association, the Chinese-American Library Association, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, the Asian Pacific Library Association and REFORMA, for which he served on the executive board 1990-1997 and as president in 1991-92. He also helped found REFORMA’s Puerto Rico Chapter.

He worked with two Boards of Trustees on monitoring and appropriating funds from the $37 million Peterson Foundation, one of the largest public library foundations in the country. As a current member of the Orangeburg (N.Y.) Public Library Board of Trustees, Mr. Gonzalez has been elected to serves as treasurer for the past 7 years.

Gonzalez has also served as the treasurer for the Passaic Club of Rotary International and is currently the President.

His honors include: two Librarians of the Year Awards for Outstanding Service to the Spanish Speaking in the Nation as well as the Northeastern U.S., Outstanding Service for Treasurer from REFORMA Northeast and the Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award for Service to the Homeless,

Gonzalez received a BA in Spanish & Psychology from the City College of New York. He holds an MLIS from the Graduate School of Library & Information Science at the Pratt Institute. He also completed the Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School.

Bohrer and Gonzalez will engage in a candidates’ forum on Saturday, January 26, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. The candidates will each have an opportunity to make a statement and will answer questions from the audience.

Ballot mailing for the 2013 ALA election will begin on March 19. The election will close on April 26, 2013.