CHICAGO — Larry Neal, library director of Clinton-Macomb Public Library in Michigan; and Joel Thornton, Associate Dean, Collections and Scholarly Communication, University of Utah, are candidates for the treasurer of the 91´«Ã½ for 2025-2028.

Neal has been the library director at Clinton-Macomb since 2006. Prior to that, he was assistant director at Clinton-Macomb, and he worked at the Rochester Hills Public Library as a page/clerk/systems and facilities manager, and as head of tech. He also served as an adjunct clinical associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Information (2017-23).

He is a member of the Public Library Association and served as PLA president (2014-15). He is currently on the PLA Budget and Finance Committee and an 91´«Ã½ Policy Corps Fellow. He is a member of the Rainbow Round Table and the Intellectual Freedom Round Table. He served on the 91´«Ã½ Executive Board (2020-23), 91´«Ã½ Council (2017-23), 91´«Ã½ Budget and Review Committee, and 91´«Ã½ Finance and Audit Committee. He was also president of the Michigan Library Association earlier in his career.

He holds an MSI-LIS from the University of Michigan, an MBA from Oakland University, and a BA in Spanish/German/Honors College from Oakland University.

“It is an honor to be invited to stand for election at this critical juncture in 91´«Ã½’s history. We will be celebrating our sesquicentennial, onboarding a new Executive Director, and implementing a new Operating Agreement. At the same time, we will be making difficult decisions on how to achieve 91´«Ã½’s financial stability for the short term and sustainability for the long term,” Neal said. “We must ensure 91´«Ã½’s services and products align with the changing needs and expectations of our 50,000 members while providing good value for their hard-earned membership dollars. As Treasurer, I will bring ample experience, expertise, patience, and diplomacy to the position. Future generations of library workers are counting on all of us to work together to overcome 91´«Ã½’s numerous challenges which are significant but not insurmountable.”

Thornton is a Spectrum Scholar who has worked as the associate dean for collections & scholarly communication at the University of Utah since 2022. Before that, he was director of research & instruction at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and interim associate dean for research & learning also at the University of Arkansas. He began his career in libraries at Texas A&M University.

He is a current member of the Association of College & Research Libraries, the Black Caucus of 91´«Ã½, and the Association for Information Science and Technology. He has served as treasurer and chair of the finance committee of the Fayetteville (AR) Public Library Foundation Board. He is on the Budget & Finance Committee for the Center for Research Libraries and is the BC91´«Ã½ treasurer. He served as a mentor for the Library Leadership and Management Association section and the Spectrum Scholars program and served on the 91´«Ã½ – BRASS Education Committee.

Thornton holds a Master of Science in Operations Management and a Project Management Graduate Certificate from the University of Arkansas. He also holds a Master of Science in Information Science from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Business Administration–Accounting from Pittsburg State University. A current ARL Leadership Fellow, he has completed the Harvard Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians and the ARL Leadership and Career Development Program.

“I am delighted to stand for election as 91´«Ã½ treasurer. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a librarian, I am uniquely qualified for this role. Trust and transparency represent core values of the CPA’s code of ethics, which I would adhere to in serving the members’ interests,” Thornton said. “As treasurer, I will collaborate with leadership and stakeholders to ensure that members receive the expected value from the association. Additionally, identifying solutions to increase organizational resiliency and the ability to thrive in any economic environment will be a key focus. If elected treasurer, through a fresh perspective, unique expertise, and collaborative engagement, I will work to address long-standing challenges like escalating operational costs and declining revenue to best position 91´«Ã½ for the future.”

Neal and Thornton will have an opportunity to make a statement and answer questions from members in a virtual 91´«Ã½ Treasurer Candidates' Forum to be held in February 2025. More information to come.

Members who are interested in running by petition for 91´«Ã½ Treasurer, you may do so by completing a with the signatures of no fewer than 200 91´«Ã½ current personal members. Here are instructions for creating an e-petition by December 13, 2024. In addition to the petition itself, members must complete a . The information submitted on this form will be used for the web ballot. Once the petition process is completed, petition candidates and nominated candidates are treated exactly the same. They are not differentiated on the ballot because they are on equal footing and are all viable candidates for these positions. The petition period for the 2025 election is open now and will close on December 13, 2024.

Ballot mailing for the 91´«Ã½ election will begin on March 10, 2025, and will run through April 2, 2025. Individuals must be members in good standing to vote in the 2025 91´«Ã½ elections. Renew your membership or by calling 1-800-545-2433, option 1. For more information, please visit the 91´«Ã½ Election webpage.

About the 91´«Ã½

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.