Governance

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).

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.