2022 Presenters

Irene Padilla has served as the Maryland State Librarian since 2002. She is responsible for administering state and federal programs to improve library services in the 24 public library systems in the state of Maryland, the State Library Resource Center (SLRC), Sailor and the three Regional Resource Center programs.  She also oversees the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD) and the Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library. 

Her vision of providing leadership and guidance for the development of collaborations across multi-type libraries has helped develop dialogue and partnerships within the library community to sharpen and prioritize shared challenges, increase the potential for expanded resource sharing and to build the case for supporting Maryland libraries.

Irene has a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Library Science and an M.L.S. from Western Michigan University.  She also holds an M.P.A. from George Mason University.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone is Director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation. For over twenty years she has worked closely with library professionals and library trustees on a wide range of intellectual freedom issues related to library service in the United States. She has served on the faculty of the ALA-sponsored Lawyers for Libraries and Law for Librarians workshops and is a contributor to the 10th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual. She has contributed articles on law, policy, and intellectual freedom to American Libraries and other publications. 

Tonya Aikens is President and CEO of Howard County Library System (HCLS), a nationally recognized Five Star Library for delivering excellence in public education for all ages. HCLS consistently earns the highest five-star ranking attained by fewer than one percent of public libraries in the U.S. and remains the only library system in Maryland to do so. Tonya has directed library services for more than 20 years and is keenly focused on building the collective leadership of the organization, its partners, and the community to provide equitable, high-quality educational opportunities for all. Tonya believes libraries to be the center of community culture and is passionate about the ability of libraries to transform lives, systems, and communities. Her vision for a project where library staff and community come together in racial equity training, story gathering and sharing, sensemaking, collaboration across backgrounds and differences, and action to advance equity became the groundbreaking Brave Voices Brave Choices initiative. She has served on numerous boards and commissions and currently serves as Chair of the Local Children’s Board of Howard County, is a member of the Community Action Council of Howard County’s Board of Directors, is a member of the Maryland Public Library Administrator’s Intergovernmental Task Force, is a member of the Community Ecology Institute’s Board of Directors, an appointee of the Maryland State Librarian to the State Library Resource Center Oversight Commission, and the Maryland Association of Public Library Administrators’ Intergovernmental Taskforce. Her quiet time is directed toward family, good food, smooth jazz, and fine tea.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone is Director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation. For over twenty years she has worked closely with library professionals and library trustees on a wide range of intellectual freedom issues related to library service in the United States. She has served on the faculty of the ALA-sponsored Lawyers for Libraries and Law for Librarians workshops and is a contributor to the 10th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual. She has contributed articles on law, policy, and intellectual freedom to American Libraries and other publications. 

A passionate school librarian, Ms. Love loves libraries of all forms and advocates for all learning communities.   Utilizing various technological resources to connect partners with the school library,  she empowers students in the learning process and promotes professional development with various forms of technology.

Ms. Love is President-Elect of the Maryland Association of School Librarians Advocacy Committee (MASL) and on the Executive Board of the Citizens for Maryland Libraries (CML). She is also a proud member of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) and the American Library Association (ALA).

Isaiah West (he/him) is the Teen Services Specialist for the Prince George's County Memorial Library System (MD). As someone that is part of the LGBTQ+ community, his goal is to create safe, nurturing spaces that allow people to be their true selves and explore evolving identities. When not working, you can find him over-caffeinated and traveling the world with his husband.

Tamar Sarnoff is the Director of the Public Libraries and State Networking Branch of the Maryland State Library Agency. She received her B.A. and M.L.S. from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany, and her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona’s Department of Communication. She has had many roles in her 10+ years in public libraries before joining the Maryland State Library in 2017. What she enjoys most about her work with the agency is working to ensure that public libraries are relevant, inclusive, exciting destinations, and that libraries are able to tell compelling stories about the impact of service on individuals and communities.

Michael Johnson is a Deputy Chief of the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library/State Library Resource Center (SLRC). His areas of responsibility include Collection Management, Technical Services, Periodicals, and the Digital Resources Department. He also supervises several state-wide projects for SLRC including the Sailor Research Databases, the Maryland State Publication, Depository and Distribution Program, and Digital Maryland (EPFL/SLRC's collaborative state-wide digital preservation program).

Andrea Boothby-Rice has been with Queen Anne's County Library as a Public Services Librarian since 2015.  She is the MLA Intellectual Freedom Panel Chair 2021-2023.  Prior to that she worked in multiple different types of libraries and archives while obtaining her Master's degree from Drexel University.

Laura Hicks is the Education Specialist for School Library Media at the Maryland State Department of Education. She provides leadership in the area of school libraries to school districts and other organizations, and speaks for school libraries on state governing boards and committees.

After almost 20 years in the library profession, Arnessa Dowell’s experiences range from being a Page to sitting in three different Library Director’s chairs. Since receiving her MLS from North Carolina Central University in 2011, Ms. Dowell has used the library as a platform to promote community engagement, inclusion, and enhance customer service standards. Since coming on board as the Executive Director of the Kent County Public Library system last year, Ms. Dowell has continued to commit herself to creating and fostering change that will make the library a continued pillar in the community.

Sonia Alcantara-Antoine has served as the executive director of Baltimore County Public Library since February 2021. She is the President-elect for the Public Library Association, representing over 10,000 member libraries in North America. Prior to joining Baltimore County Public Library, she was director of Newport News Public Library for 3 years and held leadership positions at Virginia Beach Public Library and Enoch Pratt Free Library. She is an American Library Association Spectrum Scholar. She is active in a number of professional association groups including the Urban Libraries Council, where she serves on the Race and Social Equity and Digital Equity action teams. Sonia holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Old Dominion University.

Skip Auld, MLS, has been working in public and academic libraries across the East Coast for more than 45 years.  Mr. Auld is Chief Executive Officer of the Anne Arundel County Public Library, a position he has held since 2010. 

Prior to his tenure in Anne Arundel County, Mr. Auld served as director of the Durham County Library in Durham, North Carolina, assistant director of the Chesterfield County (VA) Public Library and branch manager of the Carroll County Public Library (MD). 

He began his library career at Duke University. Mr. Auld holds a Master of Science in Library Science from the University of North Carolina and a Certificate in Public Management from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the School of Information & Library Science at the University of North Carolina and the Joey Rodger Award for Library Leadership from the Urban Libraries Council.

Mr. Auld and his wife Noreen Cullen currently reside in Davidsonville, Maryland and the couple have two adult children, Patrick and Stephanie.

Michael Blackwell is the Director of the St. Mary’s County Library. He is immensely grateful for the excellence and dedication of the library’s employees, allowing him to contribute to the profession and community as well as serve the library. He maintains an interest in library architecture and is the co-chair of the ALA CORE Architecture for Public Libraries Committee and very proud of the new Leonardtown Library in St. Mary’s County. He serves on the ALA Intellectual Freedom RoundTable and as the Chair of the Oboler Awards Committee. He has served on the ALA Digital Content Working Group and has frequently published and presented on library eBook issues. He serves on the county’s Social Services, Museum, and Community Mediation Boards and is past president of Leonardtown Rotary. He seeks to provide equity in access in library services and collections and in his community. When not engaged in library work or community involvement, Michael enjoys biking, sailing, and, of course, reading.

Michelle Hamiel is known and respected throughout Maryland Libraries as an extraordinary leader with enhanced leadership skills and exceptional judgment. As Chief Operating Officer Michelle leads the mission, vision, innovation and operations of the 19 branches and the county detention center. Her seasoned experience, dedication and leadership skills has contributed to some of the Library's most high-profile initiatives, developing a strategic framework for a systemwide approach to race and social equity work, LINK, a program providing library access to all county public school students, and  the circulation of Wi-Fi enabled Chromebooks which allow home internet access for customers. She leads a cross departmental team that has developed a career ladder that will change the trajectory of librarians within the library system.  Michelle works tirelessly to level the playing field for staff and residents in Prince George’s County Maryland. 

Leading the State of Maryland Task Force for Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries, she is interminably working to assist Maryland library, CEOs, directors and administrators with navigating equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism initiatives. 

Michelle also leads the Maryland Library Association taskforce for Equity Diversity and Inclusion. She proudly serves on the Urban Libraries Council Race and Social Equity Action Team. Michelle is a James Partridge award winner. She holds a Master’s degree in Library Science and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration.   She also receives inspiration from her students at the University of Maryland iSchool where she serves as an adjunct lecturer.