Governance

American Library Association gears up for 2020 ALA election

CHICAGO – American Library Association (ALA) is gearing up for its upcoming election. Polls will open at 9 a.m. Central Time on Monday, March 9, 2020.  ALA members are encouraged to cast a digital ballot to vote for association-wide leadership that will shape the future and direction of the association. ALA’s annual election will close on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. 

ALA responds to financial situation

CHICAGO – American Library Association (ALA) President Wanda K. Brown and the ALA Executive Board released the following statement in response to financial shortfalls in the current fiscal year operating budget that were first brought to light at the Association’s recent Midwinter Meeting.

Booker, Neal and Rivera to serve on ALA Executive Board

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) Council has elected Latrice Booker, Larry Neal and Alexandra Rivera to serve on the ALA Executive Board. The Executive Board election took place during the 2020 ALA Midwinter Meeting held Jan. 24-28, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Elected board members will begin a three-year term beginning in July 2020 and concluding in June 2023. 

ALA Appoints Tracie D. Hall as Executive Director

CHICAGO - The American Library Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Tracie D. Hall as its executive director, effective February 24, 2020. Following a nationwide search, Hall was selected to succeed Mary W. Ghikas, who has worked for ALA since 1995 and served as executive director since January 2018. Hall is the first female African American executive director in ALA’s history.

2020 ALA Nominating Committee Councilors-at-Large candidates announced

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) Nominating Committee annually nominates candidates from among the general membership for members-at-large of Council. Individuals who are not selected by the Nominating Committee may run for office by petition. 

Wong, Yates seek 2021-22 ALA presidency

CHICAGO - Patricia "Patty" M. Wong, City Librarian at Santa Monica (Calif.) Public Library. and Steven Yates, Assistant Director, University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies, are the candidates for the 2021-22 presidency of the American Library Association (ALA).

Library community stands together to address uptick in racially fueled violence and abuse in U.S. communities

CHICAGO - American Library Association (ALA) and its professional affiliates, including the American Indian Library Association (AILA), Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), Joint Council of Librarians of Color, Inc. (JCLC, Inc.) and REFORMA: the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, will donate funds to libraries that are on the front lines of defending equity, diversity and inclusion.  

PLA names Clara Bohrer as first fiscal officer

CHICAGO — Today, the Public Library Association (PLA) officially announced the appointment of Clara Nalli Bohrer, director of the West Bloomfield Township (Mich.) Public Library, as its first fiscal officer. Through a ballot initiative approved by the members earlier this year, the position of fiscal officer was added to the PLA Board of Directors. In her capacity as immediate past-president, board member Pam Sandlian Smith selected Bohrer for the fiscal officer role. Bohrer will serve a three-year term on the PLA Board, ending in 2022.