Becky Calzada For ALA President-Elect 2027-2028

As a lifelong advocate for libraries and a dedicated public school educator, my professional concerns are rooted in upholding the core values of the American Library Association in every opportunity I am given to serve. These values, Access, Equity, Intellectual Freedom and Privacy, Public Good, and Sustainability, are not only aspirational but essential to the health and longevity of our profession and our democracy.

I believe that we must continue to champion our ALA values by advocating for inclusive policies, defending the right to read, promoting the benefits of literacy and ensuring that every community, regardless of geography or demographics, has access to fully funded, professionally staffed libraries. Promoting inter-division, roundtable and interest groups collaboration and communication is key to building stronger networks, increasing innovation, and avoiding siloed thinking and understanding of our work both in libraries and in our association. Collaboration strengthens our entire library ecosystem, allowing us to amplify our collective voice.

My priority also lies in communicating our value. and our members want to know whether their work matters and makes a difference. There are MANY great things happening in our libraries across the country and beyond. We must tell those powerful stories of impact happening across all library types because they demonstrate our impact. When we amplify these successes, we not only inspire one another; we also build crucial and needed public and political capital.

Finally, I am committed to executing the goals outlined in ALA’s Strategic Plan by translating strategic objectives into meaningful action. This includes supporting sustainability efforts,  prioritizing equity and access at all levels, and engaging in leadership development to build capacity in anyone in our association who seeks to grow. Libraries are essential public institutions, and it is our responsibility to ensure they remain vibrant, responsive, and resilient.

Through collaboration, strategic focus, and unwavering commitment to our ALA core values, we can continue to position libraries as pillars of truth, inclusion, and opportunity in every community we serve.