Governance

Helmick, Pun Seek American Library Association Presidency for 2025-26 Term

CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) Nominating Committee has selected two nominees to run for ALA president in the upcoming election. The candidates running for the 2025-26 term are Sam Helmick, Community & Access Services Coordinator at Iowa City Public Library, and Raymond Pun, Academic and Research Librarian at the Alder Graduate School of Education in California.

ALA Nominating Committee seeks ALA President-elect & ALA Councilor at Large candidates for 2024 election

The American Library Association (ALA) thrives thanks to the energy, diversity, and commitment of its members and leaders. The Nominating Committee encourages members to consider serving the association in various leadership positions. The association should reflect the diversity of our membership, including diverse experiences, races, genders, ethnicities, and both new and experienced members. Currently, the Nominating Committee for the 2024 ALA election is seeking nominees for the positions of ALA president-elect and councilor-at-large on the 2024 spring ballot.

Lappin and Schneider appointed to ALA Executive Board

Amy Lappin and Karen Schneider have been appointed by the American Library Association (ALA) Executive Board to fill two newly created vacant seats on the board. The vacant seats were formed upon adoption of the recently revised ALA Bylaws, which allows the executive board to comprise itself of 15 members (previously 13) as stipulated in bylaws Article V, Section 1. Lappin and Schneider will each serve two-year terms beginning July 2023 and concluding June 2025 in alignment with the board approved staggering sequence established for board continuity.

Calzada Elected 2024-2025 AASL President

CHICAGO – Becky Calzada, Library Services Coordinator in the Leander Independent School District (ISD) based in Leander, Texas, has been elected the 2023-2024 president-elect of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). She will serve as the AASL President during the 2024-2025 term.

Upon learning the outcome of the election, Calzada provided the following statement:

AASL Opens Call For Knowledge Quest and School Library Research Editorial Board Members

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) seeks a dynamic group of school library professionals to serve on the Knowledge Quest (KQ) and School Library Research (SLR) Editorial Boards. These publications move the profession forward by highlighting school library best practices and emergent research in the field. For more information and the application, visit www.ala.org/aasl/app.

Hohl, Suess Seek American Library Association Presidency for 2024-25 Term

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) Nominating Committee has selected two nominees to contend in the upcoming election for ALA president. The candidates vying for the 2024-25 term are Cindy Hohl, director of policy analysis and operational support at Kansas City Public Library (Missouri), and Eric D. Suess, director of Marshall Public Library (Idaho).

American Library Association (ALA) Condemns Proposed State Legislation Limiting Access to Information on Reproductive Health

The Executive Board of the American Library Association (ALA) issued the following statement in response to proposed state legislation that would censor library materials or put at risk library workers who provide access to information, including information on abortion or any aspect of reproductive health care.

ALA Condemns Destruction of Libraries, Schools, and Cultural Institutions in Ukraine

CHICAGO -- On June 25, 2022, the American Library Association (ALA) Council passed a resolution condemning the enormous damage and destruction of Ukrainian cultural resources resulting from the continued occupation of Ukraine by the Russian Federation government.

Steve Kelley Elected 2023-24 Chair of Core's Metadata & Collections Section

Steve Kelley has been elected Chair-elect of the Core Metadata & Collections Section for 2022-23. He will become Chair of the Section in July 2023 and continue as Past Chair for one year starting July 2024. Kelley is the the Head of Continuing Resources and Database Management at the Z. Smith Reynolds Library at Wake Forest University, where  he has worked since 2002.

Stratton named ALA parliamentarian

CHICAGO — Adrian Stratton, president of the New York Association of Parliamentarians, has accepted the role of American Library Association (ALA) parliamentarian.

Eli Mina, who has served as ALA’s parliamentarian for 20 years, will be retiring at the adjournment of the 2022 Annual Conference in Washington DC, June 23-28, 2022. Stratton will be stepping into this role thereafter.

ALA employs a parliamentarian who is not a member of the association for the Council and Membership meetings of the Association.