91´«Ã½

CHICAGO - Stacey A. Aldrich, State Librarian, Hawaii State Public Library System, Honolulu, Hawaii; Ed Garcia, Director, Cranston Public Library, Cranston, Rhode Island; and Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada, Adult Services Assistant Manager, Palos Verdes Library District, Rolling Hills Estates, California, are candidates for the 2022-23 presidency of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½).

Aldrich currently serves on the 91´«Ã½ Center for the Future of Libraries Advisory Group (2019 – 2021) and 91´«Ã½ President-Elect Patty Wong’s Presidential Advisory Committee (2020 – 2022). She is a member of the Public Library Association (PLA), the Association of Specialized Government and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASGCLA), and has held an 91´«Ã½ membership for more than 20 years.

She has served in several leadership roles, including Director, Hawaii Library Association (2017), Deputy Secretary for the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, Pennsylvania Department of Education, State Library of Pennsylvania (2012-2015), State Librarian, California State Library, (2009 – 2012), and Board Member, Association of Professional Futurists (2007-2010). Aldrich is a past president of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (2013- 2014).

“Aloha! I am honored to be on the ballot with such amazing librarians this year,” said Aldrich. “I became a librarian because I believe that libraries are the keepers of our collective stories and places of opportunity and hope in the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success of each person who walks through our physical or virtual doors.

“The 91´«Ã½ is our special place. It is where our profession comes together to build relationships, learn, advocate, and create the future. I would consider it an extreme privilege to represent our intelligent, passionate, and dedicated profession and work with our community to build a future that will nourish and support our members, libraries, and the places we call home. Mahalo for your consideration!”

Aldrich holds an MLS and a BA in Russian language and literature from the University of Pittsburgh.

Garcia is a current member of the 91´«Ã½ Executive Board (2018-2021). An 91´«Ã½ member since 2006, he is a founding member of the 1876 Club at the 91´«Ã½ Legacy Society. Garcia is serving his third term on 91´«Ã½ Council as an 91´«Ã½ Councilor-at-Large (2011-2020). He is currently serving on the 91´«Ã½ Philanthropy Advisory Group (2019-2021) and the Forward Together Working Group. He is a member of the 2010 class of 91´«Ã½ Emerging Leaders.

He is an active member of Core, PLA, the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), the Games and Gaming Round Table (GAMERT), the Rainbow Round Table (RRT), Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table (GNCRT), Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) and the Sustainability Roundtable (SUSTAINRT). He also is a member of the Freedom to Read Foundation, Black Caucus of 91´«Ã½ (BC91´«Ã½), and REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking.

Garcia has served on numerous committees within 91´«Ã½, including the Finance & Audit Committee (2018-2021), Committee on Committees (2015-2016), Committee on Diversity (2014-2016), and Emerging Leaders Interest Group Steering Committee (2011-2013). Garcia also served on several selection juries, including the Paul Howard Award for Courage Jury (2016), Spectrum Scholarship Selection Jury (2013 & 2014), and Emerging Leaders Selection Jury (2011).

As an active member of RUSA (2006-present), Garcia has served in several leadership roles, including as a Director-at-Large on the RUSA Board of Directors (2015-2018), Co-Chair, RUSA Name Change Task Force (2016-2017), Chair, RSS Public Relations & Marketing Committee (2010-2011), and as a member of the RSS Public Relations & Marketing Committee (2007-2010).

"I am honored to stand for election at this pivotal point in time for 91´«Ã½," said Garcia. "Now more than ever, with the continued threats to federal funding for libraries and increased strain on local budgets due to COVID-19, our advocacy efforts need to be foremost in our work. We should not only advocate for libraries as institutions but advocate for library workers as well. As libraries reopen, library workers' safety, job security, and mental wellness should be at the top of our advocacy efforts.

"Our association is facing challenges that need strong leadership and a collaborative spirit to overcome. Together we can address these challenges and use them as an opportunity to create a more inclusive, responsive, resilient, and sustainable 91´«Ã½."

At the local level, Garcia is the current chair of the Rhode Island Library Association Legislative Action Committee (2016-present), a member of the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Library and Information Studies (GSLIS) Advisory Board (2012-present), and served on the Library Board of Rhode Island for 10 years (2008-2018). He also serves on Congressman Jim Langevin's Education Advisory Committee.

Garcia earned a BA in history, an MLIS, and an Information Literacy Instruction Certificate from the University of Rhode Island. He was awarded a PRISM Plus diversity fellowship at URI and earned a Certificate of Completion for Creating Collaborative Solutions from Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Pelayo-Lozada recently completed a term as an 91´«Ã½ Executive Board Member (2017-2020) and is currently a Councilor-at-Large (2012-2015, 2015-2018, 2020-2023). She is an active member of the 1876 Club, Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC), CORE, PLA, RRT, Social Responsibility Round Table, and Sustainability (SustainRT). She also is a member of several 91´«Ã½ Professional affiliates, including the Asian-Pacific American Librarians Association (AP91´«Ã½), BC91´«Ã½, Chinese American Librarians Association (C91´«Ã½), American Indian Library Association, and REFORMA. She has held an 91´«Ã½ membership for more than13 years.

Pelayo-Lozada has served and continues to serve on various 91´«Ã½ committees at both the 91´«Ã½ and division level, including the Constitution & Bylaws Committee (2020-2022), Budget Analysis & Review Committee (2019-2020), Development Office Task Force (2017-2018), AP91´«Ã½ Rep, Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services (ODLOS) Advisory Committee (2016-2018), Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Implementation Working Group (2016-2018), Committee on Diversity (2012-2016), Spectrum Advisory Committee (2013-2015), Elected Council Rep, Planning & Budget Assembly (2016-2018), ALSC Membership Committee (2014-2016), Liaison with National Organizations Serving Children and Youth Committee (2012-2014), and LLAMA New Professionals Section Web Team (2014).

Additional leadership roles include Chair, Steering Committee on Organizational Effectiveness (2018-2020), Chair, ODLOS Advisory Committee (2016-2017). Pelayo-Lozada currently serves as AP91´«Ã½ Executive Director (2019-2022) and is a past president of AP91´«Ã½ (2016-2017). She is the Chair of the Palos Verdes Library District's BUILD Team, focusing on diversity and racial equity, Rolling Hills Estates, California, and a Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature (CSMCL) Board Member (2012-present). She also is a 2011 91´«Ã½ Emerging Leader.

"As we face new challenges in libraries and answer the call for a transformative association and inclusive society, I am honored to stand as a candidate for 91´«Ã½ President," said Pelayo-Lozada. "As an experienced association leader and library worker, more than ever, I see the need for strong leadership from passionate members who understand the current complexities and pressures of serving our communities.

"I see our association as one that seeks out, listens to, and acts on the varied perspectives and experiences of our members and staff to ensure a fiscally stable and racially equitable association. 91´«Ã½ will be an example of organizational excellence and sustainability and will continue to strengthen our advocacy as champions for our libraries, our workers, and our communities. As your president, we can and will make 91´«Ã½ stronger together."

Pelayo-Lozada holds an MLIS and a BA in sociology from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and an AA in philosophy from El Camino College, Torrance, California.

Aldrich, Garcia, and Pelayo-Lozada will engage in a candidates' forum at 1 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, January 23, during the 2021 Virtual 91´«Ã½ Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits. The candidates will each have an opportunity to make a statement and will answer questions from the viewers.

Ballot mailing for the 91´«Ã½ election will begin on March 8, 2021 and will run through April 7, 2021. Individuals must be members in good standing to vote for the 2022-23 91´«Ã½ candidates. Renew your membership or by calling 1-800-545-2433, option 1.

91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) 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, 91´«Ã½ 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.