American Libraries ; Barnes, Calzada Seek 2027–2028 ALA Presidency
"The American Library Association (ALA) announced on November 6 the candidates running for ALA president for the 2027–2028 term. They are Tamika Barnes, associate dean of Perimeter College Library Services at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and Becky Calzada, district library coordinator at Leander (Tex.) Independent School District."
Lisa Peet , Library Journal; LJ Talks to 2026–27 ALA Presidential Candidates Lindsay Cronk, Andrea Jamison, and Maria McCauley
"Voting for the American Library Association (ALA) 2026–27 presidential campaign opens March 10, and ALA members in good standing can cast their ballots through April 2. LJ invited candidates Lindsay Cronk, dean of libraries at Tulane University, New Orleans; Andrea Jamison, assistant professor of school librarianship, Illinois State University; and Maria McCauley, director of libraries, Cambridge Public Library, MA, to weigh in on some key issues.
Further information about the candidates and other items on the ballot can be found on ALA’s Election Information page.
This is a challenging time for ALA—states have restricted ALA membership access, the organization remains in a search for an executive director, and book ban legislation hasn’t abated. How do you plan to support the association during your presidency?
MM: I will continue to advocate for libraries, building on my experience serving on ALA’s Committee on Legislation, where I helped to form the national legislative agenda, visited national and state legislators to underscore the power of libraries to transform lives, to champion pro-library information policies, and to advocate for funding. I will collaborate with the Freedom to Read Foundation, ALA groups, state associations and agencies, and others to support freedom to read legislation and to fight book bans. ALA has incredibly talented staff who are facing uncertainty and taking on these challenges, and I will make it a point to visit, listen to, learn from, and lift up team members. I am also excited to engage with, meet, and thank members and to encourage new members. An important role of the president is to run Council and to lead the Executive Board. I will be prepared to preside and facilitate the business of the association working with member leaders on Council, Executive Board, divisions, round tables and committees, chapters, affiliates, and others. I also will help to onboard the next executive director and to work closely with staff and member-leaders as we face these challenges together.
LC: I’ll bring seasoned, confident, and strategic leadership to these challenges. Most of my career has been spent in so-called “red states,” where I’ve successfully championed the freedom to read. I know when to lead with public advocacy and when to focus on strengthening local relationships—and I know how to tell the difference. I am experienced at working successfully to support state and local organizations. Showing up for colleagues takes many different forms, and statements are just one. As ALA president, I’ll prioritize coalition-building to strengthen partnerships, amplify advocacy against censorship, and develop resources to protect library workers on the frontlines. Stabilizing leadership within ALA will also be key to ensuring the Association’s long-term success. I am ready to lead, and I hope to earn your support.
AJ: I have several priorities. First, it’s going to be important for ALA to combat library “misinformation.” Librarians have been labeled as anti-American by certain interest groups. We have also been accused of attempting to indoctrinate children via the dissemination of what some people view to be “obscene” materials. Some of these narratives have, in part, contributed to social outcry against libraries and an uptick in book bans. My campaign platform is “From Information to Inspiration: Together, we can change the narrative.” We have the opportunity to strategically enhance our messaging to communities so that our patrons will better understand our commitments to intellectual freedom and equity.
Second, I’m running to advocate more broadly for pro-library legislation and protections for all library workers. I live in Illinois, where we have been successful at passing anti-censorship legislation. What we have done here has prompted me to begin working with publishers, lawyers, and library stakeholders to begin drafting language that can be used widely or modified to advocate for pro-library legislation and protections for librarians across the nation. If elected, I will partner with leaders and members through various committees, divisions, and roundtables to advance this work.
Last, I feel it’s going to be very important for ALA to support school librarians as well as those who are bearing the brunt of censorship challenges. I recently spoke to a few ALA committees about the realities of school librarians who work with administrators who do not understand the role of librarians as they relate to intellectual freedom and protecting the First Amendment rights of minor students. As president of ALA, I will propose efforts that will allow us to strategically recruit administrators as members of the organization. We can invite them to our conferences and offer them specific training around issues that will help them better understand the value of school librarians and how First Amendment rights apply within school library settings. We will benefit from this type of collaboration in many ways. For one, we can increase our membership. Second, we can create greater allyship among administrators who can help us advocate for pro-library legislation, because both libraries and schools have a vested interest.
It is imperative to ensure that we hire an executive director who understands member-driven organizations as well as the mission of libraries, and how the current sociopolitical climate will influence members. I have been part of several search committees for administrators and faculty members, so I understand the process of vetting the “right” candidate through a rigorous, multi-step selection process. I also understand the importance of providing members with opportunity to give feedback during each step of the hiring process. As a former ALA councilor, I have proactively advocated for more transparency and better channels of communication to membership regarding vetting processes for the executive director as well as our finances. I plan to work with members, ALA Executive Board, ALA Search Committee, and council to develop processes for more transparency."
Lisa Peet , Library Journal; LJ Talks to the 2023–24 ALA Presidential Candidates
"Voting for the American Library Association (ALA) 2023–24 presidential campaign opened on March 14, and ALA members in good standing can cast their ballots through April 6. Results will be announced following the Election Committee’s count on April 13.
LJ invited candidates Emily Drabinski, interim chief librarian at The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY); and Kelvin Watson, executive director of the Las Vegas–Clark County Library District (LVCCLD), to weigh in on some key issues; further information can be found on ALA’s Election Information page...
LJ: Along with a lot of other frontline professions, we’re seeing a librarianship backlash lately, with people leaving in frustration, anger, and fear. What can ALA do to help combat that sense of dissatisfaction?
KW: I see overlap in these two questions and will answer them in the following response.
At the branch level, we must first acknowledge the toll that the pandemic has taken on our staff and encourage our employees to take advantage of health and wellness resources available through employment benefits and in our communities. As a profession, we need to look at creating a library workforce of the future by better aligning training and education with the new normal in mind, and create a career path that will better serve our library workers. I believe this could include broadening our library science degrees through courses in business, technology, the sciences, social work, and public policy, to name a few, to expand our knowledge base and build advocacy from a variety of life experiences and perspectives.
ED: Solidarity with each other as we act to change our working conditions is the only way forward. Libraries and library workers are under siege, and we must connect our struggles with those of other public sector workers who, after decades of disinvestment, are asked to perform Herculean efforts on behalf of our communities. ALA must continue to use its power and voice on behalf of library workers, telling louder public stories about what those of us on the ground need to make good on our commitments to our communities."
