Page 18 - BCALA Summer 2018

18 | BCALA NEWS | Volume 45, Issue 3
BCALA Member Julius Jefferson Challenges Werner for ALA Presidency
By BCALA Publications Committee
BCALA member Julius Jefferson
will seek the 2020-21 presidency of
the American Library Association. Jefferson faces Lance Werner, executive director of Kent District Library in Michigan. BCALA confirmed with Werner that he is not currently a BCALA member.
The following information about Jefferson is from a press release, available at http://www.ala.org/news/ member-news/2018/08/jefferson- werner-seek-2020-21-ala-presidency.
“An active member of ALA for 15 years, Jefferson currently serves on and has been a member of the ALA Council since 2011, and most recently completed a 3-year term on the ALA Executive Board (2015-18). He has also served on a number of critical committees, including the Finance and Audit Committee (2017-18),
the Budget Analysis and Review Committee (2014-18), the Intellectual Freedom Committee (2010-14) serving as the 2010-11 chair, and is currently chair of the Chapter Relations Committee, as well as on numerous other committees and task forces of the association.
Jefferson is an active member of a number of ALA-affiliated entities, including the Library Leadership
and Management Association (LLAMA), the Intellectual Freedom Round Table, the Federal and
Armed Forces Libraries Round
Table (which will become part of
the Association of Specialized, Government and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASGCLA) effective Sept. 1), International Relations Round Table, the Black Caucus of ALA (BCALA) and the Asian/Pacific Librarians Association (APALA).
In addition to his service to the American Library Association, Jefferson has held a seat on the board of the Freedom to Read Foundation (2012-16) serving as the 2013-16 president; served as president of the DC Library Association (2015); and served on the board of the BCALA (2007-09). He is the recipient of several awards, including BCALA Outstanding Contribution to
Publishing Award (2013), BCALA Appreciation Award (2010), and Congressional Research Service Special Achievement Award (2010).
An often called upon authority/ speaker on issues of importance
to library workers, Jefferson has appeared on a number of media outlets, including National Public Radio. He is co- editor of ‘The 21st- Century Black Librarian in America: Issues and Challenges’ and is often sought as a speaker on library-related issues such as diversity, leadership and professional development.
“It is an honor to stand as a candidate for ALA President,” said Jefferson.
“I look forward to being a champion for library workers who should be recognized and celebrated for the value they bring to the communities they serve. I am also enthusiastic about advocating for a healthy library economy, creating strong financial support for libraries. The significance of ALA is the instrumental role our members perform in our communities. As ALA President I will seek to ensure that all voices are valued so together we can transform lives.”
Jefferson holds a BA in History from Howard University and an MLS from the University of Maryland.”