Governance Office

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.

ALA condemns racism and violence in Charlottesville

CHICAGO - Today American Library Association President Jim Neal released the following statement regarding the weekend’s tragic violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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 resolution on global climate change

CHICAGO - At the 2017 Annual Conference in Chicago, ALA Council passed a resolution calling for libraries to preserve and make available factual, scientific data, information and literature both from government and citizen sources pointing to evidence of global climate change.

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. 

ALA secures search firm in quest for new executive director

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) has announced that it will enlist the services of Isaacson, Miller to identify and select ALA’s new executive director.  ALA’s current Executive Director, Keith Michael Fiels, will retire on July 31, 2017. 

ALA has established a search committee to work with Isaacson, Miller during the selection process.  The search is scheduled to begin by the end of May, with final interviews scheduled for the end of October. 

Mary Mackay to become new ALA Associate Executive Director for Publishing

CHICAGO -  After a nationwide search for the American Library Association’s new Associate Executive Director for Publishing, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Mary Mackay to the role. Mary will start her new position on June 5th.
 
Mary has been with ALA since 2005 and from 2005 to 2011, served as the Director of Marketing and Marketing Strategy for ALA Publishing.

Public Library Association members elect Ziesenhenne as 2018-19 president; Chase, Jeske and Plymire to board

CHICAGO — Monique le Conge Ziesenhenne, director of the Palo Alto (California) City Library, has been elected 2018-2019 president of the Public Library Association (PLA). She will serve a three-year term beginning after 2017 ALA Annual Conference in June, including one year each as president-elect (2017–2018), president (2018–2019) and past-president (2019–2020).