Public Programs Office Contact Information
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The Public Programs Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CT). For general inquires, please call, write or fax us at:
Phone: 312.280.5045
Fax: 312.280.5759
Email: publicprograms@ala.org
Mailing Address:
Public Programs Office (PPO)
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225 N. Michigan Ave.
Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60601
To suggest a partnership or program opportunity, please fill out ’s
Director, Melanie Welch (she/her)
![Melanie headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_w_image/public/2024-04/Melanie_Welch_0225_Websize.jpg?itok=ISN7V6AL)
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Phone: 312.280.5054
Contact Melanie with general inquiries regarding the Public Programs Office, the (PCPAC), the , and support for library programming through partnerships, sponsorships, grants,and donations.
Project Director, Samantha Oakley (she/her)
![Samantha Oakley headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_w_image/public/aboutala/content/Samatha_Oakley_0206_Websize.jpg?itok=uZyhw2ER)
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Phone: 312.280.5287
Contact Samantha with questions regarding , Let's Talk About It, , , PPO's annual grant opportunities, online learning, evaluation, and partnership inquires.
Communications Manager, Hannah Arata (she/her)
![Hannah Arata headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_w_image/public/aboutala/content/Hannah_Arata_0253_Websize.jpg?itok=BDV4BHN_)
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Phone: 312.280.3272
Contact Hannah with questions or ideas for the website and for questions regarding communications and promotional materials for PPO's grant opportunities.
Program Officer, Emily (Em) Gallaugher (they/them) (honorific: Mx.)
![Emily (Em) Gallaugher headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_w_image/public/aboutala/content/Em_Gallaugher_0211_Websize.jpg?itok=Ky73hajT)
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Phone: 312.280.5057
Contact Emily with general questions about PPO as well as questions regarding the , Let’s Talk About It: Women’s Suffrage, Teaching with Primary Sources: Women’s Suffrage, World on the Move: 250,000 Years of Human Migration, and Great Stories Club (GSC).
Program Officer, Kaileen McGourty (she/her)
![Kaileen McGourty headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_w_image/public/aboutala/content/Kaileen_McGourty_0197_Websize.jpg?itok=GLecdaom)
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Phone: 312.280.5055
Contact Kaileen with general questions about PPO as well as questions regarding Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, Community Connect, Americans and the Holocaust, and the Libraries Transforming Communities: Engagement Grant.
Deputy Director, Sarah Ostman (she/her)
![Sarah headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_w_image/public/2024-04/Sarah_Ostman_01_Websize.jpg?itok=AeREt7PA)
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Phone: 312.280.5061
Contact Sarah with questions or ideas for the website, including inquiries about submissions and blogging opportunities, and tips about innovative or potentially newsworthy stories about library community engagement. Questions regarding American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grants for Libraries, Americans and the Holocaust, the National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment, and Exploring Human Origins should be directed to Sarah. Media should contact Sarah for more information about PPO grant offerings and programs.
Project Director, Brian Russell (he/him)
![Brian Russell headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_w_image/public/aboutala/content/Brian_Russell_0266_Websize.jpg?itok=QDXrKNdt)
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Phone: 312.280.5298
Contact Brian with questions regarding , the Public Programs Office's grant management system, partnership inquiries and for questions regarding , World on the Move: 250,000 Years of Human Migration, the (GSC), and the STAR Net STEAM Equity Project.
Program Officer, BeeBee Cooper Browne (they/she) (prefix/honorific: Mx. Browne)
![BeeBee Cooper Browne headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_w_image/public/aboutala/content/Beebee_Browne_0248_Websize.jpg?itok=E4IRtugL)
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Phone: 312.280.5053
Contact BeeBee with questions regarding , the Public Programs Office's grant management system, with general questions about PPO as well as questions regarding .
Program Officer, Meghan Gieseker (she/her)
![Meghan Gieseker headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_w_image/public/aboutala/content/Meghan_Gieseker_0245_Websize.jpg?itok=22ee-qNq)
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Phone: 312.280.5286
Contact Meghan with general questions about PPO as well as questions regarding the National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment, , Exploring Human Origins, the STAR Net STEAM Equity Project, Media Literacy for Adults: Architecture of the Internet, and Thinking Money for Kids.