Board of Directors

��ϲʿ��app Council elects three members to Executive Board for 2024-2027 term

JCARMICHAEL — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 17:58:51 +0000

��ϲʿ��app Council elects three members to Executive Board for 2024-2027 term

CHICAGO — The ��ϲʿ��app () Council has elected Nick Buron, Peter Coyl and Dr. Corinthia Price to serve on the Executive Board. Elected board members will begin a three-year term in July 2024 and conclude in June 2027.

Nick Buron is the chief librarian at Queens Public Library in New York. He holds a master’s in library science from State University of New York at Buffalo and a bachelor’s in American history from State University of New York at Albany. Buron currently serves as Councilor at Large and served on the Council Orientation Committee and the Constitution and Bylaws Committee. He is a member of the Public Library Association (PLA), Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), Black Caucus of , and Core: Leadership, Infrastructures, Futures.

“I am deeply honored to have been elected to serve as an Executive Board member for the ��ϲʿ��app,” Buron said. “Working to support libraries has been my professional life-long pursuit. I look forward to helping advance all libraries during these exciting, and challenging, times through the mission and hard work of and its members.”

Peter Coyl is the library director & CEO of the Sacramento Public Library. He holds a master’s in library and information science from Drexel University and a bachelor’s in public administration and public policy from Oakland University. He currently serves as the Intellectual Freedom Round Table councilor and is a member of ’s Intellectual Freedom Committee. He is the former President of the Freedom to Read Foundation; past Chair of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table; past Chair of the Stonewall Book Awards; and a former member of the PLA Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Task Force.

“It is a privilege and an honor to be chosen by my colleagues to help lead our Association,” Coyl said. “I believe in the power of libraries to change lives, and I am excited to continue the great work we are doing to defend the right to read, preserve access to our libraries, and advocate for library workers.”

Dr. Corinthia Price is the librarian at the Green Vale School in Old Brookville, New York. She holds a doctorate in Educational Administration, Leadership and Technology from Dowling College, Oakdale, New York. She holds a master of science in library and information science from Long Island University – C.W. Post Campus, Brookville, New York, and bachelor in professional studies from the New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury. She is a member of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIRT). She is a member of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table where she serves on the 55th Anniversary Committee and Marketing Standing Committee.

“It is an honor to be selected to serve on the Executive Board of ,” said Price. “During these perilous times of book banning, it is important to have diverse representation within the profession reflected on the executive board. School and children librarians who are the vanguard of free access to literature and learning should be represented fully at all decision-making tables.”

The Executive Board manages the affairs of the association. It is composed of the president, president-elect, immediate past president, treasurer, executive director and ten members elected by Council from among the members of that body. For more information on the Executive Board, please visit http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/officers.

ABOUT AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
The ��ϲʿ��app () is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

JCARMICHAEL Wed, 02/07/2024 - 11:58

Board of Directors

Contact:

Raymond Garcia

Communications Specialist

��ϲʿ��app

Communications, Marketing & Media Relations Office

cmomedia@ala.org

Library, author, bookseller groups condemn legal action attempting to censor books in Virginia

SHAWNDA.KAY — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:08:36 +0000

Library, author, bookseller groups condemn legal action attempting to censor books in Virginia

The ��ϲʿ��app () joined with Virginia librarians and booksellers, publishers and civil liberties organizations to issue a statement on June 1 condemning a Virginia political candidate’s legal action that seeks to halt distribution of two well-received books in Virginia. Based on the unfounded claim that the books might be "obscene for unrestricted viewing by minors,” such legal actions threaten Virginians’ freedom to read, according to the coalition’s members.

Signed by the Virginia Library Association, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, the Authors Guild, the Freedom to Read Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union, among others, the statement (full text below) “strongly urge[s] Virginians—and all Americans—to stand against any attempt to use government action to dictate what we can read and how to think about what we read.”

According to the coalition, the lawsuit “aims to prevent readers from making a personal choice to read these books at all. The petitioners’ subsequent statements to the press make it clear that they intend to use this action as a means to criminally prosecute librarians, booksellers, and publishers.”

President Patricia “Patty” Wong said, “The ��ϲʿ��app stands shoulder to shoulder with the Virginia Library Association and the Virginia Association of School Libraries against this blatant attempt at censorship. The attempt to use the government’s power to halt distribution of these books not only curbs Virginians’ freedom to read, it would undercut the mission of libraries and undermine the democratic principles that hold our nation together.

“Attempts to censor books are proliferating nationwide, yet polls show that large majorities of voters and parents oppose book bans,” said Wong. “Now is the time for readers to speak out. That’s why is summoning everyone, anywhere to take a stand with us and support the #UniteAgainstBookBans campaign.”

The full text of the statement follows:

Virginia Legal Action Threatens the Freedom to Read

On May 18, 2022, in a legal action that threatens the free speech rights of all Virginians, a Virginia congressional candidate, represented by a Virginia delegate, sought and obtained an order finding probable cause, based on limited, one-sided evidence, that two well-received, well-reviewed books, Gender Queer and A Court of Mist and Fury, might be "obscene for unrestricted viewing by minors.” Initiated under an obscure state law that allows any Virginia citizen to file a complaint against any book sold in the state, the order obtained by the Virginia delegate asks the authors and publishers of the books to present evidence that the books are not obscene so that the judge can make a final decision regarding whether the books may be legally sold in Virginia.

This legal action could profoundly limit the availability of books in the Commonwealth of Virginia. No book has been banned for obscenity in the United States in more than 50 years. Prohibiting the sale of books is a form of censorship that cannot be tolerated under the First Amendment.

The Supreme Court has established a narrow test for obscenity that requires that the text as a whole, even if it references sex or nudity, lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value. Neither of the books challenged in these cases comes remotely close to meeting the Supreme Court’s long-established criterion for a finding of obscenity.

Gender Queer is a multi-award winning coming of age story that clearly has serious literary value. School review committees across the country composed of teachers, parents, students and librarians have upheld its value for adolescent readers, and it is available in many school and public libraries. Many of those committees have explicitly found that the book’s few sexual references are not erotic, but instead are meant to inform the reader about the main character’s struggles with eir identity and coming of age, struggles which are obviously of great interest and value to adolescents. In fact, school districts ranging from Maryland’s Howard County to Kentucky’s Jefferson County have put Gender Queer on “recommended” or “great” lists for high school students. It won the 2021 Iowa High School Battle of the Books. The School Library Journal called it “a great resource for those who identify as nonbinary or asexual as well as for those who know someone who identifies that way and wish to better understand.” Contrary to well-settled United States Supreme Court precedent and Virginia law, suggestions that a few depictions of sexual experience render the entire, 240-page book obscene are, quite simply, false.

A Court of Mist and Fury is also a widely praised work with serious literary and artistic value. Booklist, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews and USA Today gave it strongly positive reviews, calling it a worthy addition to its popular fantasy genre and praising it for its portrayals of mental health struggles, female empowerment, and the dynamics of romantic relationships. A bestselling novel that has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list 15 times, A Court of Mist and Fury was also chosen as a Goodreads Choice winner. Readers on Goodreads.com overwhelmingly rate it highly; out of more than 700,000 reviews, more than 90 per cent of the reviewers give it four or more stars.

Those who care about individual liberties and the freedom to read should understand precisely what the law requires, should the petitioners succeed: the law in question will make it illegal for any bookstore to sell these books in Virginia. This petition aims to prevent readers from making a personal choice to read these books at all. The petitioners’ subsequent statements to the press make it clear that they intend to use this action as a means to criminally prosecute librarians, booksellers, and publishers.

Over the years, many people have tried to ban books by claiming that they are obscene. If persons like the petitioners obtain similar orders every time they have objections to a book, it will chill the freedom to read and stifle the voices of authors and publishers. Librarians, educators, authors, publishers, and booksellers will be targeted for making available books that everyone has the right to choose to read.

The undersigned organizations strongly urge Virginians–and all Americans–to stand against any attempt to use government action to dictate what we can read and how to think about what we read. Prohibiting the sale and distribution of books is an affront to our democratic values and threatens each person's and each family's individual liberties. It is contrary to our principles of democracy to allow anyone, regardless of their beliefs or political position, to determine what other Americans can read.

Signed by:

ACLU

ACLU of Virginia

American Booksellers for Free Expression

��ϲʿ��app

Association of American Publishers

Authors Guild

Barnes & Noble Booksellers

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Freedom to Read Foundation

National Coalition Against Censorship

National Council of Teachers of English

PEN America

Virginia Association of School Librarians

Virginia Library Association

###

SHAWNDA.KAY Wed, 06/01/2022 - 09:08

Advocacy

Intellectual Freedom

Board of Directors

Contact:

Shawnda Hines

Deputy Director, Communications

Public Policy and Advocacy

shines@alawash.org

Kathy Carroll, Sara Dallas to serve on Executive Board

SZALUSKY — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 19:24:32 +0000

Kathy Carroll, Sara Dallas to serve on Executive Board

CHICAGO - The ��ϲʿ��app () Council has elected Kathy Carroll and Sara Dallas to serve on the Executive Board. The Executive Board election took place during the virtual 2022 Library Learning Experience. Elected board members will begin a three-year term beginning in July 2022 and concluding in June 2025.

Kathy Carroll is library director at Westwood High School in Blythewood, South Carolina. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in English, a master’s degree in teaching, and a master’s in library and information science from the University of South Carolina. An Spectrum Scholar, she is a 13-year member. She has served on the Spectrum Scholar Advisory Committee and the Spectrum Jury. She has also been active with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), serving as 2020-21 president. She currently serves on the Transforming Governance (TAG) Task Force and the Working Group to Condemn White Supremacy and Fascism as Antithetical to Library Work.

Carroll said, “The diversity we desire within the profession must be mirrored in our governance representation. School librarians are an essential component of the library ecosystem, and our perspective and leadership will strengthen the work of the association. I hope to be a part of this critical moment in time to ensure that not only maintains its influence but serves as an impactful and visionary cornerstone for our profession.”

Dallas is director of the Southern Adirondack Library System in Saratoga Springs, New York. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in rhetoric and communications and a master’s in library and information science from the State University of New York at Albany. An member for more than 25 years, she serves as chair of the Core Values Task Force and is on the Sustainability Committee. An Councilor at Large, she also serves on the Committee on Legislation. She has served on the Public Library Association (PLA) board of directors and has chaired several committees, including the Committee on Professional Ethics.

Dallas said, “It would be an honor to serve on the Executive Board of the at this critical time in its history. I bring extensive professional experience working on intellectual freedom issues, sustainability, strategic planning, building collaborative partnerships, strengthening government policies, programs and funding in support of libraries. My career shows my continuous commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and social justice.”

The Executive Board manages the affairs of the Association. It is composed of the president, president-elect, immediate past president, treasurer, executive director and eight members elected by Council from among the members of that body. For more information on the Executive Board, please visit http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/officers.

About the ��ϲʿ��app

is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

SZALUSKY Fri, 02/04/2022 - 13:24

LibLearnX

Governance

Board of Directors

Contact:

Sheryl Reyes

Director

��ϲʿ��app

Governance

sreyes@ala.org

Mary Davis Fournier named PLA executive director

SZALUSKY — Fri, 14 May 2021 14:33:42 +0000

Mary Davis Fournier named PLA executive director

CHICAGO — The ��ϲʿ��app () announced today the appointment of Mary Davis Fournier as executive director, Public Library Association (PLA), a division of . Her first day in her new role will be Monday, June 14.

Fournier is a 20-year veteran of , having served in various roles including, most recently deputy director of the Public Programs Office. At , she spearheaded dozens of groundbreaking projects that have paved the way for innovation in the library field, including Libraries Transforming Communities and the National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment (NILPPA), Building Common Ground: Discussions of Community, Civility and Compassion, and the first “One Book” resource, Planning Your Community-Wide Read. She is the co-editor of Act, Listen, Empower: Grounding Your Library Work in Community Engagement ( Editions, 2020), which documents the field’s transformational shift toward library-led community engagement.

Her work, which has illuminated and leveraged the unparalleled power of libraries to support the most vulnerable and in-need populations through excellence in programming and community engagement, has been supported by a range of national partners including the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Fetzer Institute, the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation, among others.

Prior to , Fournier worked in neighborhood development, as program director at the Near South Planning Board (Chicago), directing the Printers Row Lit Fest and authors-in-the-schools programs, and in higher education as Programming Associate at Miami-Dade College’s Miami Book Fair International (Florida). Active in the Chicago arts and philanthropic community, Fournier is a past co-chair of Chicago Women in Philanthropy. She is a Certified Association Executive and holds a M.Ed. in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Champaign – Urbana, and a B.A. in History and English Literature from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

“We are delighted that after a nationwide search we found our next leader so close to home,” said Michelle Jeske, president of PLA. “Mary’s reputation in the library field is stellar, and her innovative work with public libraries and public library professionals through ’s Public Programs Office has prepared her well to lead PLA into its next era. We are in very capable hands.”

Tracie D. Hall, executive director, added, “I’ve had the pleasure of working with and knowing Mary for almost two decades. She has dedicated her career to helping libraries serve their communities. Her appointment comes at a critical time in the evolution of public library services as practice continues to shift to respond to pandemic and post-pandemic user needs and information seeking behavior. Mary’s long track record of developing fruitful institutional partnerships, incubating new programs, and scaling impact are well matched for the task at hand. Her commitment, as well, to the values of the library profession, and the relationships she has built with public library staff nationwide through the Public Programs Office, ideally suit her for this role. I’m excited to work with her to propel and PLA forward.”

The Public Library Association (PLA) is the largest association dedicated to supporting the unique and evolving needs of public library professionals. Founded in 1944, PLA serves nearly 10,000 members in public libraries large and small in communities across the United States and Canada, with a growing presence around the world. PLA strives to help its members shape the essential institution of public libraries by serving as an indispensable ally for public library leaders.

SZALUSKY Fri, 05/14/2021 - 09:33

Governance

Board of Directors

Contact:

Stephanie Hlywak

Director

��ϲʿ��app

Communications and Marketing Office

shlywak@ala.org

2021 Public Library Association election results

SZALUSKY — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 05:00:00 +0000

2021 Public Library Association election results

CHICAGO — Today, the Public Library Association (PLA) announced the results of its 2021 Election. Voting was available from March 8 through April 7, and open to all PLA members in good standing.

The members elected Dr. Maria Taesil Hudson McCauley, director of Libraries at the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Public Library to the office of 2022-2023 PLA president.

McCauley will serve a three-year term beginning this June and including one-year stints as president-elect (2021-2022), president (2022-2023), and immediate past-president (2023-2024).

“I am filled with gratitude to have this opportunity to serve as future President (2022-2023) of the Public Library Association and to work with talented member-leaders to fulfill PLA’s mission of strengthening public libraries and their invaluable contribution to communities,” said Dr. McCauley on learning the outcome of the election. “Public library workers have great heart, care deeply about their communities and each other, and are passionate about equitable and inclusive library service. I greatly look forward to my tenure on the PLA board.”

McCauley has served as director of libraries since August 2016 for the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she oversees a $15 million budget, seven libraries, and 125 staff members. During her tenure, the Cambridge Public Library opened a new Valente Branch Library and built a state-of-the-art maker space, The Hive, to support the City's STEAM efforts. McCauley was formerly the director of libraries in Santa Monica, CA; director of libraries for the City of Somerville, MA; and held several library positions at Northeastern University in Boston. She is also serving in her final year of a term on the ��ϲʿ��app’s Executive Board and has served as an councilor-at-large for two terms.

McCauley earned a Bachelor of Arts from Ohio Wesleyan University, a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Simmons University. She is an Spectrum Scholar, class of 1999.

Also elected to the PLA board, as directors-at-large, were

Erica Freudenberger, outreach, engagement & marketing consultant, Southern Adirondack Library System (Saratoga Springs, New York)
Candice Wing-yee Mack, Administrator, Young Adult Services, Los Angeles (California) Public Library

Each will serve a three-year term beginning in June 2021.

PLA thanks all the candidates who stood for election as well as all the members who voted. Their efforts to impact and enhance PLA are extremely valuable to the future of the organization. Special thanks to the 2021 Nominating Committee, chaired by Dr. Monique Le Conge Ziesenhenne, for producing an outstanding slate of candidates.

# # #

About the Public Library Association

SZALUSKY Wed, 04/14/2021 - 00:00

Governance

Board of Directors

Contact:

Scott Allen

Deputy Director

��ϲʿ��app

PLA

sallen@ala.org

Endowment Trustees add minority-owned GQG Partners as newest fund manager

MMORALES — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:46:56 +0000

Endowment Trustees add minority-owned GQG Partners as newest fund manager

CHICAGO - The ��ϲʿ��app () Endowment Trustees announce the acquisition of minority-owned GQG Partners LLC as the newest fund manager in 's $62 million portfolio. Founded in 2016 by Rajiv Jain, Chairman & Chief Investment Officer, GQG Partners LLC joins the portfolio via its International Opportunities Fund, a considerable cap growth mutual fund that offers international portfolio diversification.

"The addition of GQG Partners is an example of Endowment Trustees' commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by seeking out and opening doors to minority-owned businesses," said Patricia A. Wand, senior trustee. "We are pleased to take full advantage of Mr. Jain's recognition within the investment community and his more than 25 years of experience managing international equities and executing international equity strategies."

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, GQG Partners LLC manages $30 billion in regulatory assets for 800 institutional clients in 28 countries.

As the newest fund manager, the firm helps diversify and manage $1.2 million of the portfolio held by Merrill Lynch. “With full support of our financial advisors, we continue to search for fund managers representing minority populations while we hold 's financial future and security squarely in our focus,” Wand commented further.

The Endowment Trustees manage the Endowment Fund on behalf of the Executive Board, guided by the established policies, procedures, and guidelines of the investment policy statement. Additionally, they have the authority to hold, invest, reinvest, recommend disbursements, and otherwise deal with endowment funds under the direction of the Executive Board of the association.

About the ��ϲʿ��app

The ��ϲʿ��app () is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

MMORALES Wed, 03/24/2021 - 09:46

Diversity

Board of Directors

Contact:

Keith D. Brown

Senior Financial Analyst

Finance Department,

kbrown@ala.org

condemns violence on Capitol Hill, calls for advocacy

SZALUSKY — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 17:22:51 +0000

condemns violence on Capitol Hill, calls for advocacy

WASHINGTON, DC — The Executive Board of the ��ϲʿ��app () gives thanks for the safety of the staff in our Public Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington and members who work on Capitol Hill, as well as for elected legislators, congressional staff and other government workers who put themselves in jeopardy to defend the seat of our federal government on January 6, 2021.

forcefully condemns the violent attempts to undermine the integrity of our electoral process and our democracy. The threats, destruction of government buildings and looting witnessed on January 6 do not constitute peaceful protest, but domestic terrorism.

In the span of 24 hours, we witnessed the best and the worst of our nation. The day before Capitol Hill was stormed by a mob, Georgia voters elected the first Black Senator and first Jewish Senator to ever represent their state in Congress.

On January 4, newly elected members of the 117th Congress took the oath of office, solemnly affirming that they will “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Despite the horrific interruption of their work, Congress resolutely returned to carry out its mission, and so must we.

Libraries in America defend the constitutional rights of all individuals and are cornerstones of the communities they serve. We celebrate and preserve our democratic society so that all individuals have the opportunity to become lifelong learners and engaged residents – informed, literate, educated, and culturally enriched.

A growing number of elected officials are awake to the value of their libraries; but many have yet to understand the role libraries play in education and employment of their constituents and the economic empowerment of their communities. There is much more work to do.

To preserve our democratic society and ensure that the health of America’s libraries is a national priority, library advocates must engage decision makers at every level of government. reaffirms our commitment to advocating for libraries, library workers and the profession. To advance library policy priorities and resources to do our work, calls on every library worker and library supporter to join ’ advocacy network, follow the work of our Public Policy and Advocacy Office and sign up to advocate with state chapters.

###

SZALUSKY Thu, 01/07/2021 - 11:22

Governance

Board of Directors

President

Contact:

Shawnda Hines

Assistant Director of Communications

��ϲʿ��app

Public Policy and Advocacy Office

shines@alawash.org

Candidates announced for 2021 Public Library Association board election

MMORALES — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 19:55:15 +0000

Candidates announced for 2021 Public Library Association board election

CHICAGO – The Public Library Association (PLA) 2021 Nominating Committee has unveiled the slate of candidates for the Association’s 2021 Election. This year, six nominees will stand for three positions on the PLA Board of Directors: 2022-2023 president and two directors-at-large. The candidate elected in each race will serve a three-year term from July 2021 through June 2024. The candidate elected to the office of president will serve one year as president-elect (2021-2022), one year as president (2022-2023), and one year as immediate past-president (2023–2024).

The candidates and the offices for which they are running are listed below. Please click on the name of each candidate to learn more about them.

Board Candidates

President

Richard Kong; Director; Skokie (Ill.) Public Library

Maria Taesil Hudson McCauley; Director of Libraries; Cambridge (Mass.) Public Library

Director-at-Large (Seat A)

Candice Wing-yee Mack; Administrator, Young Adult Services; Los Angeles (Calif.) Public Library

Lois Langer Thompson; Executive Director; Sno-Isle Libraries (Marysville, Wash.)

Director-at-Large (Seat B, Small/Rural Library)

Erica Freudenberger; Outreach, Engagement & Marketing Consultant; Southern Adirondack Library System (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.)

KennethWayne Thompson; Executive Director; Charles County Public Library (La Plata, Md.)

PLA personal members should renew their PLA memberships by January 31, 2021, to be eligible to vote. Online voting will be available from Monday, March 8, through Wednesday, April 7. Each eligible PLA member will receive an email containing voting instructions and their unique ballot URL.

PLA sincerely thanks the members of its 2021 Nominating Committee for their service: Monique le Conge Ziesenhenne, Susan H. Hildreth, Amita Lonial, Felton Thomas, Jr., and Carrie N. Willson.

Standing for election to the board of directors is just one of several ways for members to become more closely involved with PLA. Learn how to get more involved with PLA on the PLA web site.

About the Public Library Association

The Public Library Association (PLA) is the largest association dedicated to supporting the unique and evolving needs of public library professionals. Founded in 1944, PLA serves nearly 10,000 members in public libraries large and small in communities across the United States and Canada, with a growing presence around the world. PLA strives to help its members shape the essential institution of public libraries by serving as an indispensable ally for public library leaders. For more information about PLA, contact the PLA office at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or pla@ala.org.

MMORALES Tue, 12/29/2020 - 13:55

Board of Directors

Governance

Contact:

Scott Allen

Deputy Director

Public Library Association

sallen@ala.org

Polls now open in 2020 PLA election

SZALUSKY — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 21:44:35 +0000

Polls now open in 2020 PLA election

Voting Deadline: Wednesday, April 1, 11:59 p.m. Central Time

CHICAGO -- The voting period has begun in the Public Library Association (PLA) 2020 election. Members will have an opportunity to elect three new directors to the PLA Board of Directors.

Seven nominees will stand for four positions on the board: PLA President, Division Councilor and two Director-at-Large seats. These are crucial leadership roles that will guide PLA into the next several years, ensuring the organization delivers on its core purpose to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve. The members elected in each race will serve three-year terms from June 2020 through June 2023.

To be eligible to vote in the PLA election, individuals must be members in good standing of as well as PLA as of Jan. 31, 2020. Eligible PLA members will receive their voting credentials, instructions and unique ballot URL by email between Mar. 9 and 11. The polls will remain open through Wednesday, Apr. 1, and the election results will be announced on Wednesday, Apr. 8.

Visit the PLA Election page for further details, including profiles of the board candidates. Members can also learn more about this year’s candidates by reviewing “Your Guide to the 2020 Elections.” The guide contains general information about the presidency and candidates, recent presidential initiatives and Council information.

# # #

About the Public Library Association

SZALUSKY Tue, 03/10/2020 - 16:44

Governance

Board of Directors

Contact:

Scott Allen

Deputy Director

��ϲʿ��app

Public Library Association

sallen@ala.org

responds to financial situation

SZALUSKY — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 16:17:11 +0000

responds to financial situation

CHICAGO – ��ϲʿ��app () President Wanda K. Brown and the Executive Board released the following statement in response to financial shortfalls in the current fiscal year operating budget that were first brought to light at the Association’s recent Midwinter Meeting.

“For many years, the Executive Board and staff have understood that the Association’s three main revenue streams—membership, conferences, and publishing—were declining while operations were experiencing inflationary pressures. We take our role as financial stewards of the organization very seriously and, with an eye toward growing our revenues and strength as an association, in 2017 we authorized initiatives such as a strategic investment budget (a planned deficit) to improve information technology, development and advocacy initiatives and have provided regular reports to Council and BARC. Additional strategies included the recently completed sale of ’s headquarters buildings, which turned a real estate asset into a revenue generating asset for future financial returns in the endowment fund.

“However, FY16-FY19 had unplanned deficits in addition to the strategic investment areas. The unplanned deficits fall primarily into two categories: underperformance by ’s three primary revenue streams and overspending in several areas, with the greatest in IT. The result is a financial situation that is impacting all areas of .

“The greatest impact of the unplanned deficits is in this fiscal year, due to a liquidity issue, as a cash shortfall in our operating budget. While divisions and roundtables retain use of their fund balances, cash may not be available for large expenditures such as endowment transfers without planning. General operations continue as normal for divisions and roundtables, but we encourage communication with financial personnel within to determine the impact of liquidity upon operations and timing of financial actions. By policy, divisions and other units are expected to be strong, strategic stewards of their funds and provide fiduciary oversight. The Board and the Executive Director deeply appreciate the stewardship that made these funds available to help through this period. We also understand that division leaders felt they were not adequately consulted; we pledge to do better in the future.

“Beyond the immediate situation, there are other fiscal challenges. The three traditional revenue routes are not growing sufficiently to sustain us into the future. The library workforce in the United States contracted during the recession and library work, and staff patterns continue to change. The best economic forecasts indicate that our profession is not likely to ever rebound to the size or staffing pattern it was prior to 2008. Indeed, attention to changes in the library ecosystem as well as in ’s business environment was behind the Board’s decision for critical strategic investments benefiting every unit for future success.

“There are opportunities to diversify and expand membership, but overall, a smaller workforce impacts both membership and conference attendance. Newer generations of librarians have different expectations for how they engage with one another in association work. Therefore, Conference Services is working with members to develop compelling content as well as supporting virtual meetings in support of some of the association work.

“Similarly, publishing in is following challenging patterns found throughout the industry. We are aware of these trends and we also recognize that our association has a level of complexity that creates another barrier to success. Neither the changing face of the profession nor the tough questions about the future of membership or of association governance can be ignored if we are going to continue to thrive.

“It should be noted that ’s endowment and net assets continue to be strong. The endowment comprises long-term investments that support current and future initiatives such as scholarships, awards, and mission programs. We have not tapped nor intend to use these assets to solve the short-term cash needs.

“As association leaders, the Board is immediately implementing additional financial controls and accountability to help steward through this challenging period. We will play a more active role in ensuring that all units stay within their budgets. Revenue forecasts will include more rigorous justification and will be tracked and reported to the Board on an ongoing basis. The Board will also work closely with units and the interim CFO to make reporting more transparent to us all.

“The work of the Steering Committee on Organizational Effectiveness (SCOE) began with a focus on making more transparent and facilitating better member engagement. In light of the current fiscal situation, some findings in the October 2019 report Forward Together are prescient and more urgent than ever. As we look toward the of the future, the luxury of redundancy and complexity is no longer an option. We urge all members, to ask ourselves what are we willing to try and adjust as we go along? What changes will help us reach our goals of organizational excellence? How much longer can we wait to make significant changes, and what changes will help us – collectively – enhance our effectiveness in meeting the needs of members as well as libraries and the communities they serve?

“While the current financial situation is unfortunate, we have an opportunity and a mandate to work on new ways to engage our members, grow strategic partnerships, and advocate for libraries and those that rely on them. Your wisdom and experience will contribute to our ongoing discussions about our future together. We are continuing to work with Council and units for ongoing dialogue and regular communication on financial issues.”

About the ��ϲʿ��app

The ��ϲʿ��app is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

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