Libraries Transforming Communities: Libraries as Leaders in Bridging Divides Advisors

Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Libraries as Leaders in Bridging Divides aims to enhance the role of libraries as vital centers for building community connections, encouraging civic engagement, and fostering critical thinking.

This phase of LTC will equip library workers with the tools needed to facilitate challenging conversations on divisive issues, promoting understanding and empathy. As part of this initiative, the ALA will create a free e-course and comprehensive guide to support library staff in leading these important discussions. The resources developed will help library workers build facilitation skills, creating safe spaces for constructive dialogue and fostering stronger, more cohesive communities.

Libraries Transforming Communities: Libraries as Leaders in Bridging Divides is part of ALA’s longtime commitment to preparing library workers for the expanding role of libraries. This phase of the initiative was made possible in part by a grant from the Ford Foundation. Questions? Contact ALA's Public Programs Office.

John Clexton serves as Library Director for Gladwin County District Library.    After completing his Master of Library & Information Science in 1998 he served as a Children's Librarian first with Ypsilanti Public Library and then with Detroit Public Library.  In 2000 he joined his (then) hometown library of Grosse Pointe Public Library as a Branch Coordinator, serving 18 years there, raising his three kids along with his wife and many animals.  In 2018 he left for the Caribbean island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands as Territorial Librarian supervisor.   His love for up north Michigan called him to Gladwin, where he currently, lives on Wiggins Lake with abundant fishing and outdoor recreation. In addition to the many hats and tasks of a Director, John currently is the Association of Rural and Small Libraries 2025 President, along with numerous national and state library committees.

Jennie Garner has served in a variety of roles over 27 years at the North Liberty Library in Iowa, including as the library's director for the last decade. Jennie holds a deep passion for all areas of library work, with special focus on leadership, policy development, and ensuring equity and access in libraries.

Jennie firmly believes in the power of inclusive decision-making, and as director, she makes it a priority to involve staff at all levels in organizational planning. She views staff development and community engagement as cornerstones of a dynamic and impactful library. Jennie has presented nationally and internationally on topics including positive leadership, community engagement and bridging, and inclusive policy development.

A dedicated advocate for rural and small libraries, Jennie served as the 2023 President of the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and she continues to seek innovative ways to foster collaboration between libraries of all sizes. She served two terms on the Iowa Library Association (ILA) executive board and various committees, including governmental affairs, intellectual freedom, and leadership. Jennie is currently a member of the Public Library Association (PLA) Public Libraries Advisory Committee. At the local level, she serves on the board for Inside Out Reentry Community, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals transitioning from incarceration, reflecting her broader commitment to social justice, both in libraries and in society.

Nancy Kranich is a teaching professor and LIS concentration coordinator at Rutgers University School of Communication and Information. Kranich served as ALA president in 2000–2001, focusing on libraries and democracy. She founded the ALA’s Center for Civic Life and the Libraries Foster Community Engagement membership initiative group. Trained as a public innovator with the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, she has also served on the board of the National Issues Forums Institute, participated in democracy-focused learning exchanges with the Kettering Foundation, and co-led the “US-Russia Dialogue on the Civic Role of Libraries in the 21st Century.” She studies and teaches community engagement, as well as information policy and intellectual freedom. She published “Civic Literacy: Reimagining a Role for Libraries” in the January 2024 issue of Library Quarterly. 

Maletta Payne is the Head Technology and Information Services Librarian at Southern University and A&M College, where she leads efforts to manage and promote digital collections, fosters open education initiatives, and supports faculty in adopting and implementing affordable learning resources. With extensive experience as a system administrator librarian, reference librarian, and information literacy instructor, Maletta brings a multifaceted approach to academic librarianship.

A champion for open education, Maletta has served as an OER Faculty Cohort Lead, OpenStax Campus Representative, Affordable Learning Campus Representative, and Textbook Transformation leader. She has also facilitated training as an Open Textbook Network Campus Facilitator and completed advanced professional development through Rebus. Her leadership extends to co-presenting at the Open Ed Conference and Title III-funded initiatives aimed at improving access to learning materials.

As a key member of the LOUIS Consortium, Maletta collaborates with library professionals across Louisiana to advance systems administration, resource sharing, and professional development opportunities. She also serves as a liaison librarian for nursing and business programs and is an administrator for tools like LibGuides, LibWizard, LibAnswers, Digital Commons, and Credo Instruct,

Dedicated to fostering digital literacy, Maletta is also a NorthStar Digital Literacy Administrator and strives to empower learners with essential technological skills. Outside of her professional roles, she enjoys exploring innovative strategies to enhance information access and equity.

Laura Saunders is a Professor and Associate Dean at Simmons University School of Library and Information Science. Her teaching and research focus on the areas of information literacy including mis- and disinformation as well as reference services, and academic libraries. She regularly presents workshops and webinars on issues related to mis/disinformation; information, news, and media literacy; and civic literacy to national and international audiences. She hosted the 2018 Know News symposium, which brought together librarians, journalists, and allied professionals to discuss interdisciplinary responses to mis/disinformation, and has hosted several international delegates on the topic through a collaboration with WorldBoston. Her most recent books include the Reference and Information Services: An Introduction, 7th edition, co-edited with Melissa Wong and the open access textbook Instruction in Libraries and Information Settings: An Introduction, co-authored with Melissa Wong. Her articles have appeared in a variety of journals including College & Research Libraries, The Journal of Academic Librarianship, and Communications in Information Literacy. Laura has a PhD and a Master of Library and Information Science, both from Simmons College and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Boston University. She is the 2019 recipient of Simmons University’s Provost Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching. 

Robbie Sittel is a Library Manager for the City of Plano and formerly served as the Government Information Librarian at the University of North Texas. She is a past member of the Depository Library Council, advisory body to the Government Publishing Office, is a past chair of ALA's Government Documents Round Table (GODORT), and currently serves on ALA’s Committee on Code of Conduct. She is the League of Women Voters of Denton’s Vice President for Program serving to promote civic engagement and civic discourse through League events. She is actively involved in voter registration and voter education.

Heath Umbreit (they/them), MLIS, is the Adult Services Librarian at Morrill Memorial Library in Massachusetts. At Drexel University, they earned their Master’s in Library & Information Sciences, conferred in 2014. Their career as a librarian spans fourteen years, with time spent in both academic and public libraries. Mis- and disinformation has been a professional and personal interest of theirs for several years; their study of misinformation focuses on a critical examination of popular narratives about disinformation, the concept of epistemic supremacy, and the ways in which information and disinformation intersect with systemic power differentials in American society. In 2023-24, Heath served as an advisory board member for Be MediaWise: The Misinformation Resilience Toolkit for Libraries, a project created by Poynter Institute in partnership with the American Library Association and Stanford University's Social Media Lab.

Heath has conducted professional trainings about transgender inclusion in libraries, the recent sociopolitical backlash against librarians, how to set compassionate boundaries, and anti-transgender misinformation from an LIS perspective at state, regional, and national professional conferences. In addition to their advisory position with Libraries Transforming Communities, they are serving as a committee member for the 2024-26 cycle of the Peggy Barber Tribute Grant. As a nonbinary trans person, Heath intentionally brings a unique perspective to the field of professional librarianship and centers the values of equity, access, and social justice in their work. Find them at: www.heathumbreit.com.