Governance

ALA Appoints Mary Ghikas as Executive Director through January 2020

 CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) Executive Board has appointed Mary Ghikas as executive director through January 2020, effective immediately. Ghikas has been serving as interim executive director since August 1, 2017, after the retirement of Keith Michael Fiels. She was most recently senior associate executive director of member programs and services.

Candidates announced for 2018 Public Library Association board election

CHICAGO – The Public Library Association (PLA) Nominating Committee has unveiled the slate of candidates for the Association’s 2018 election. In the 2018 PLA election six nominees will stand for three positions on the board of directors: PLA President and two Directors-at-Large. The candidate elected in each race will serve a three-year term from June 2018 through June 2021.

PLA and United for Libraries to host Oct. 17 webinar on ‘Troubled Library Boards’

CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) and United for Libraries are partnering to present a webinar designed to improve library boards of directors. The webinar, titled “Troubled Library Boards: Prevention and Survival” will be held at 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Committee Appointments 2018-2019

CHICAGO — Loida Garcia-Febo, American Library Association (ALA) president-elect, encourages members to volunteer to serve on ALA, Council, and two joint committees for the 2018-2019 term (terms start on July 1, 2018). Serving on a committee provides members with leadership training, networking opportunities, and experience in working on specific association topics.

ALA Council adopts interpretations on politics and equity, diversity, inclusion

CHICAGO — At the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Chicago, ALA Council adopted two interpretations authored by the Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) that address recent dialogues on diversity and politics.

Council resolution calls for libraries to create responsible spaces

CHICAGO - At the 2017 Annual Conference in Chicago, the ALA Council passed a resolution regarding libraries as responsible spaces. As part of the Committee on Diversity report, this resolution is in response to a documented increase in hate crimes occurring in libraries.

The resolution calls for libraries to adopt and enforce user behavior policies that protect patrons and staff from harassment while maintaining ALA’s historic support for the freedom of speech.

Kathi Kromer new head of ALA Washington Office

CHICAGO - After a nationwide search for the American Library Association’s (ALA) new Associate Executive Director (AED), Washington, D.C. Office, ALA has announced the appointment of Kathi Kromer to the role.   Kromer will join the ALA Washington Office team on Monday, June 5, 2017.

Prior to joining ALA, Kromer was with The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association for 11 years where she was their Vice President, Strategy and Outreach.