Reimagine, Reenergize, Reunite

It is a joy and an honor to write my first blog post as your 2026-2027 President of ALSC. Thank you to everyone who reached out leading up to and during ALA Annual Conference with encouragement and offers of help in this year of Reunification. Seeing members from both Divisions expressing excitement, hope, and eagerness to be involved was deeply heartening.

With Gratitude

I want to start by thanking my predecessors, Dr. Claudette McLinn and Dr. Rob Bittner, whose leadership helped guide our Division through a pivotal year of reunification planning. I’m grateful both remain generously involved — Claudette now as Past-President, and Rob, who continues even after his past-presidential year to serve on the Bylaws Task Force. Thank you as well to our continuing Board members Robbin Friedman, Ayn Frazee, Sandra Farag, Maegen Rose, and Alia Jones, and to our outgoing Board members Katie Lawrence, Allison Knight, and Julie Roach, for all they gave to this Division this past year. To every member of ALSC and YALSA who has served on a committee, task force, or working group, our Divisions run on you and your commitment toward our work and advocacy for children and teens. A special thanks to the ALSC Priority Group Consultants, who have gone the extra mile in supporting our staff. And as always, thank you to our ALSC/YALSA staff, led by Executive Director Alena Rivers: you are the backbone of our work. We really could not do this without you.

With all of that gratitude in mind, I’m equally excited to welcome our new Board members: Vice-President Danielle Jones; returning past-President Kirby McCurtis, now serving as Division Councilor; and Directors Deadra Brown, Renee Ting, Heather Beverley, and Manuela Aronofsky.

Reunification: Where We Stand

On September 1st, ALSC and YALSA will be formally united under the ALSC moniker. The ALSC Organizational Excellence and YALSA Organization & Bylaws committees have been working side-by-side to streamline and combine our committee structures, while thoughtfully addressing committees that are sunsetting as part of the ALA Forward Initiative.

Beyond structure and process, this year we’ll also be reimagining our identity. Though ALSC remains our name for now, we have heard your feedback and suggestions, and in the year ahead we’ll be working with consultants to build a vision, mission, and strategic plan for the combined division and, eventually, a new name and brand that reflects who we’ve become.

An Invitation to Serve

One of my biggest responsibilities as president this year is appointments and building the committees, task forces, and award juries that will carry this newly reunified division forward. I thank everyone who has already volunteered, and those who have been patiently waiting through a process that has been slow at times.

If you’re interested in serving, please submit your interest through either the ALSC or YALSA volunteer form, including as much detail as possible on the ages you serve and what informs your practice. YALSA-only members’ applications will be forwarded to the ALSC appointments team, and every effort will be made to find a good fit. A quick note: ALA is currently undergoing some backend technical updates, and a few members have had trouble submitting the form as a result. If that happens to you, opening the form in an incognito or private browser tab often does the trick (and if you’re still stuck, please try resubmitting or reaching out to support). We’d rather you try again than assume the form didn’t go through. A note on membership: if you’re a current YALSA member, your membership will automatically roll over to ALSC on September 1, so there’s nothing you need to do to stay connected. More details are available on the Reunification website.

I also know many of you are already stretched thin serving your communities locally and dealing with challenges, from budgets to book bans. Your advocacy does not go unnoticed, and your willingness to also serve at the national level is already incredible. There is a place for everyone who has the capacity to participate, whether that’s this year or down the road. Please don’t hesitate to reach out, ask questions, or simply take time to acclimate before committing. Guard your yeses if you need to. We’ll still be here when you’re ready.

Save the Date: ALSC Institute in Buffalo

This October 1–3, we’ll gather in Buffalo, New York, for our National Institute, which will be held annually starting in 2028. Programming will be inclusive of the full 0–18 age range, alongside the (now sold out!) Teen Services Development Day. As we grow into this annual rhythm, we’re excited to keep building spaces for learning that reflect our core values and mission: spaces to grow together in practice, advocacy, and service to the young people and communities who depend on us.

Thank you for trusting me with this role in this pivotal year. I’m excited and energized by what we are building together, as we reimagine this division for every child and teen we serve.