Governance

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

Members encouraged to apply by May 11

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.

Elizabeth (Beth) German elected as President-Elect of RUSA

CHICAGO—Elizabeth (Beth) German, Service Design Librarian at Texas A&M University was elected as the 2018-2019 President-Elect of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association. German will serve her Presidential term during 2019-2020.

Sherry Machones elected as ASCLA President-Elect

CHICAGO—Sherry Machones, Library System Director, Northern Waters Library System (WI) was elected as the 2018-2019 President Elect of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) division of the American Library Association (ALA). Machones will serve her Presidential term during 2019-2020.

Emily Morton-Owens Elected 2019-20 LITA President; Tabatha Farney and Berika S. Williams elected to Board

Emily Morton-Owens, Assistant University Librarian for Digital Library Development and Systems at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, has been elected the 2019-20 president of the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA). She will serve as vice-president during 2018-19 and will assume the presidency in July 2019.

Public Library Association members elect Salazar as 2019-20 president; Fesemyer and Watson to board

CHICAGO — Ramiro S. Salazar, director of the San Antonio (Texas) Public Library, has been elected 2019-2020 president of the Public Library Association (PLA). He will serve a three-year term beginning after the 2018 ALA Annual Conference this June, including one year as president-elect (2018–2019), president (2019–2020) and past-president (2020–2021).

Final Reminder: Polls close April 4 in 2018 PLA Election

CHICAGO -- Time is running out for Public Library Association (PLA) members to cast their ballots in the association's 2018 election. The polls will close at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday, April 4.

ALA and AASL release joint statement on Florida Senate Bill 7026

CHICAGO – American Library Association (ALA) President Jim Neal and American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Steven Yates released the following joint statement in response to legislation that will allow for the arming of school librarians in Florida schools. Senate Bill 7026 would permit librarians, counselors, and coaches to carry firearms in Florida Public Schools.

American Library Association appoints Cushman & Wakefield as strategic real estate advisor

CHICAGOThe American Library Association (ALA) has appointed Cushman & Wakefield as its exclusive real estate advisory firm to assist in the development of strategic real estate options that support the mission, business, and financial goals of the ALA.

Long-time RUSA member, Ed Garcia, elected to ALA Executive Board

CHICAGO - The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is pleased to announce that long-time RUSA member and current RUSA Director-at-Large has been elected to the ALA Executive Board. In addition to his service to RUSA, Garcia is a member of LITA, PLA, GAMERT, GLBTRT and many other groups within ALA. Garcia is the Director of the Cranston Public Library in Cranston, RI.