Governance

Polls now open in 2019 PLA Election

Voting Deadline: Wednesday, April 3

CHICAGO -- The voting period has begun in the Public Library Association's (PLA) 2019 Election. Members will have an opportunity to elect three new directors to the PLA Board of Directors and weigh in on an important ballot measure.

ALA seeks candidates for endowment fund trustee openings

CHICAGO - Applications are now being accepted for two expiring terms on the American Library Association (ALA) Endowment Trustees committee.

PLA seeks volunteers for committees, task forces, advisory groups and award juries

Members encouraged to apply by April 12

CHICAGO -- Attention: Public Library Association (PLA) members. Are you looking for ways to expand your professional network and become more active in PLA? Please consider applying to join PLA as a volunteer on one of our committees, task forces, advisory groups or award juries. Our volunteers help shape the Association by advancing its strategic plan and influencing the direction of public librarianship.

Candidates announced for 2019 Public Library Association board election

CHICAGO – The Public Library Association (PLA) Nominating Committee has unveiled the slate of candidates for the Association’s 2019 Election. This year six nominees will stand for three positions on the PLA Board of Directors: president and two directors-at-large. The candidate elected in each race will serve a three-year term from June 2019 through June 2022.

Public Library Association releases new strategic plan

Addresses critical issues and changes affecting public libraries

CHICAGO – Today the Public Library Association (PLA) unveiled a new strategic plan effective through the year 2022. The new PLA Strategic Plan describes the association’s core purpose, core values, and vision for future success while also identifying goal areas where PLA will direct its energy and resources over the next several years.

ALA Council rescinds Meeting Rooms: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights

CHICAGO – Today the American Library Association (ALA) announced the outcome of a vote by ALA Council to rescind 2018 updates to the Meeting Rooms: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights. The vote comes after a swift response from ALA members, leadership, its offices and library advocates, to address concerns regarding the use of the term hate groups.

American Library Association outraged by the refugee family separation policy

CHICAGO - American Library Association (ALA) President Jim Neal released the following statement regarding the outrageous and devastating act of separating refugee children from their parents and caregivers seeking asylum along the southwest border of the U.S. 

“The nation’s library community is appalled that innocent children would face such emotional trauma and would be locked in mass facilities and separated from their families,” Neal said. “There is no legitimate policy or moral basis for this unconscionable action.

McGowan elected ALSC 2019-2020 president

CHICAGO — Cecilia P. McGowan, Children's Services Coordinator, King County Library System, Issaquah, Washington, has been elected vice president/president-elect of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).