It is with #ALSCJOY and profound gratitude that I concluded my term as 2025-2026 President of the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC) at the extraordinary 2026 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Chicago where we celebrated 150 years of ALA.
Serving as ALSC President during the 2025-2026 term has been both an honor and a privilege. This year was defined by action, collaboration, and a shared commitment to strengthening library service for children and the library workers who support them. Together, we advanced strategic priorities, fostered meaningful partnerships, celebrated innovation, and created opportunities for members to connect, learn, and lead.
This wrap-up reflects on the accomplishments of the past year, highlights the collective impact of our work, and recognizes the dedication of ALSC members, volunteers, staff, and leaders, whose passion and expertise made this progress possible. As we look ahead, the foundation we are building together will continue to strengthen library services that empower every child and every community.
Under my leadership as ALSC President, we began the 2025-2026 transition year by looking ahead to the reunification of two divisions, the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). This reunification will be effective September 1, 2026. Plans are in progress and on track for a successful transition.
The work is supported by a team of ALA staff, as well as ALSC and YALSA leadership. This was and continues to be a collaborative effort. The focus of the new unified division, effective September 1, 2026, will be inclusive of children and teens. The work of ensuring a balance across the age ranges (0 to 18) is already in progress.
The 2026 ALA Annual Conference began with a high energy and positive reception sponsored by ALA Governance at the newly opened Obama Presidential Center. The reception was followed by a special panel discussion featuring ALA Executive Director Dan Montgomery, Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown, and Obama Presidential Center and Museum Director Louise Bernard, moderated by Dr. Carla Hayden.
During the conference, as president, I was honored to preside over the following award presentations: the 2026 Odyssey Awards; the 2026 Pura Belpré Celebracíon and Award Ceremony; the 2026 Newbery Caldecott Legacy Awards Banquet; and the 2026 ALSC Awards Presentation, which includes the Robert F. Sibert Informational Medal and Honor Books, the Mildred L. Batchelder Award and Honor Books, the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award and Honor Books, and the Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award and Honors.
My duties and responsibilities as your president were to preside and chair the Executive Committee meeting and the Board of Directors meeting during the conference, as well as thanking the outgoing Board members, welcoming the new Board members, and passing the gavel to our 2026-2027 President Ariana Hussain who began her term on July 1, 2026.
The final act of my presidency was presiding over the Charlemae Hill Rollins President’s Program titled, “Picture Books for All: Celebrating the Joy of Visual Literacy.” The presentation brought together a panel of picture book experts to explore visual literacy and the enduring impact of the art. Three award-winning illustrators: Cátia Chien, Vashti Harrison, and Kadir Nelson, and moderator extraordinaire Leonard Marcus shared their insights into their creative processes and the ways picture books shape how we see, learn, and connect with the world. Special thanks to the President’s Program co-chairs Elisa Gall and Jené Brown and ALSC liaison Anne Michaud for planning this wonderful, well-attended program.
Thank you, Board of Directors and ALSC staff for your dedication: ALSC’s Executive Committee (Ariana Hussain, Dr. Robert Bittner, Julie Roach, and Robbin Ellis Friedman), and Directors (Sandra Farag, Ayn Reyes Frazee, Alia R. Jones, Danielle Jones, Allison M. Knight, Katherine Lawrence, Maegen J. Rose, and Valerie Tohom) and ALSC Staff (Alena Rivers, Executive Director; Sarah Polen, Deputy Director
(through February 2026); Ana Cackley, Awards Coordinator; Gavin Damore, Marketing & Membership Specialist (through September 2025); Anne Michaud, Program Officer, Governance; and Laura Schulte-Cooper, Senior Program Officer, Communications and Website). Thank you to all Committee chairs and members for your work and commitment to our common mission.
In closing, our members are the reason our division exists, and our shared mission is the reason we, as members, do what we do, working in community, in service to children. Serving as your president has been the joy of my life, ALSCJOY! As I move into my new role as past president, I look forward to continued work together. Thank you.
Dr. Claudette S. McLinn,
2025-2026 President, Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC)