ALA Nominating Committee announces councilors-at-large candidates

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has announced the names of the 18 nominated candidates who are running for a total of 12 at-large seats on the ALA Council to serve the 2026-2027 term. 

The following candidates were accepted by the ALA Nominating Committee (listed alphabetically by last name): 
 

Joy Bridwell 

Librarian 

Stone Child College/Rocky Boy Public Library 

Montana 

Academic 

Elizabeth Burns 

Associate Professor 

Old Dominion University 

Virginia 

MLIS Program 

Marikit Fain 

Information Literacy Librarian 

Southeast Missouri State University  

Missouri 

Academic 

Maggie Farrell 

Dean of Libraries 

University of Nevada, Las Vegas 

Nevada 

Academic 

Aubrey Iglesias 

Associate Professor; Head of Cataloging 

New Mexico State University 

New Mexico 

Academic 

Gina Kromhout 

Senior YA Librarian I 

Brooklyn Public Library 

New York 

Public 

Tina Lerno 

Digital Content Services Librarian II 

Los Angeles Public Library 

California 

Public 

Rodney Lippard 

Director, Torreyson Library 

University of Central Arkansas 

Arkansas 

Academic 

Charles McAuley 

Social Media Librarian/Adult Services Librarian 

Mercer County Library System 

New Jersey 

Public 

Kerrie Mierop 

Youth Services Librarian 

Calabasas Library 

California 

Public 

Matthew Noe 

Lead Collection and Knowledge Management Librarian 

Harvard Medical School, Countway Library  

Massachusetts 

Academic 

April Oharah Hernandez 

Director 

Latah County Library District 

Idaho 

Public 

Cassandra Osterloh 

Tribal Libraries Program Coordinator 

New Mexico State Library 

New Mexico 

Special, State Library (State Government) 

Fatima Perkins 

Past Chair of RSS (2021-2022), Director Community Outreach 

Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging 

Ohio 

Public 

Brenda Pruitt-Annisette 

Educator 
DeKalb County Schools 

Georgia 

Je Salvador 

Research & Instruction Librarian 

University of Washington Libraries 

Washington 

Academic 

Amanda Sand 

Consultant 

Library Leverage 

Iowa 

William Wallace 

Asst. Branch Manager 

Wicomico Public Library, Pittsville & Centre Branch 

Maryland 

Public 

The Nominating Committee extends its gratitude to all the members who put forth their names to be considered for this position and have expressed the desire to serve. Every year, the Nominating Committee selects candidates from within the general membership for council members-at-large. 

Members who are interested in running by petition for ALA Councilor at Large, you may do so by completing a petition form with the signatures of no fewer than 25 ALA current personal members by December 12, 2025. View instructions on how to create an e-petition. 

In addition to the petition itself, members must complete a Candidate Biographical Information Form. The information on this form will be used for the web ballot. Once the petition process is complete, all candidates are treated equally and appear the same on the ballot. 

The petition period for the 2026 election is now open and will close on December 12, 2025. 

Ballot mailing for the ALA election will begin on March 9, 2026, and will run through April 1, 2026. Individuals must be members in good standing to vote in the 2026 ALA elections. Renew your membership online or by calling 1-800-545-2433, option 1. For more information, please visit the ALA Election webpage. 

About the American Library Association 

The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For nearly 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.