Diverse group walking towards futuristic library

Navigating the Future of Libraries: How ALA Presidential Candidates Envision Progress

Lena Kashyap in Mind & Education August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how the candidates for ALA president aim to make academic and research libraries more relevant, vital, and financially sustainable for the future."

The American Library Association (ALA) plays a crucial role in shaping the direction of libraries across the United States. As libraries evolve to meet the changing needs of their communities, the ALA's leadership is more important than ever. In this article, we delve into the perspectives of the candidates for ALA president, Wanda Brown and Peter Hepburn, as they address critical questions about the future of academic and research libraries.

Brown and Hepburn, both accomplished ACRL members, share their insights on topics ranging from diversity and inclusion to advocacy and membership engagement. Their responses offer a glimpse into their leadership styles and their visions for ensuring that libraries remain relevant, vital, and financially sustainable for years to come.

Whether you're a library professional, a student, or simply someone who cares about the future of libraries, this article provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing these essential institutions and the leaders who will guide them forward.

How Can Libraries Better Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?

Diverse group walking towards futuristic library

Both candidates emphasize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in libraries. Wanda Brown highlights her commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community of librarians through initiatives such as drafting diversity and inclusion strategic plans and partnering with programs to recruit minority students to the field. She also advocates for mentorship programs to guide individuals in respecting all human elements.

Peter Hepburn stresses the need for libraries to reflect the diversity of their communities. He shares concerns about library staff demographics and the importance of reaching disadvantaged populations. Hepburn supports the recommendations of the ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and emphasizes the need for ALA and ACRL to commit resources to these efforts, providing guidance and serving as a model for libraries.

Implement diversity and inclusion training for staff: This helps to create a more welcoming and understanding environment for both employees and library patrons.
Develop collections that reflect diverse perspectives and experiences: Ensure that the library's collection includes materials that represent a wide range of cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints.
Partner with community organizations to reach underserved populations: Collaborate with local groups to offer programs and services that meet the specific needs of diverse communities.

These actions not only foster a more equitable environment within libraries but also enhance their ability to serve diverse communities effectively. By prioritizing DEI, libraries can become more inclusive and welcoming spaces for everyone.

The Path Forward for Libraries

As libraries navigate an evolving landscape, the vision and leadership of organizations like the ALA are crucial. The insights shared by Wanda Brown and Peter Hepburn offer a valuable perspective on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. By prioritizing diversity, advocacy, and member engagement, libraries can continue to serve as vital hubs of knowledge, innovation, and community for generations to come.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.5860/crln.79.3.128, Alternate LINK

Title: Meet The Candidates For Ala President

Subject: Library and Information Sciences

Journal: College & Research Libraries News

Publisher: American Library Association

Authors: Association Of College & Research Libraries

Published: 2018-02-27

Everything You Need To Know

According to Wanda Brown and Peter Hepburn, what are the key strategies for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within libraries, and what crucial aspects might be missing from their approaches?

Wanda Brown aims to promote diversity and inclusion by creating strategic plans and working with initiatives to attract minority students to librarianship. She also supports mentorship programs to cultivate respect among individuals. Peter Hepburn emphasizes the importance of reflecting community diversity, addressing concerns about library staff demographics, and reaching disadvantaged groups. Hepburn endorses the ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion's recommendations, urging the ALA and ACRL to allocate resources to guide and model for libraries. However, neither candidate discusses specific strategies for addressing intersectionality or ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities within library spaces and programs. This leaves a gap in addressing the full spectrum of DEI.

What practical actions can libraries take to create a more welcoming environment for diverse communities, and what considerations are essential for ensuring the long-term effectiveness of these initiatives?

To make libraries more welcoming, actions include implementing diversity and inclusion training for staff, developing collections that reflect diverse perspectives, and partnering with community organizations. Diversity and inclusion training should cover unconscious bias, cultural competency, and inclusive language. Collections must represent a wide array of cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints, including marginalized voices. Partnerships with community groups can ensure programs and services meet the unique needs of diverse populations. These initiatives are critical but require ongoing evaluation and adaptation to remain effective and relevant.

How do Wanda Brown and Peter Hepburn view advocacy and member engagement as essential components of a successful library system, and how can libraries effectively foster these elements?

Wanda Brown and Peter Hepburn emphasize the importance of advocacy and member engagement to ensure libraries remain vital. Libraries can engage members by increasing the library’s awareness and usage through showcasing success stories with data and testimonials, communicate the library’s value, and engage stakeholders. These are initial steps but need to be sustained through consistent communication, relationship building, and demonstrating the library's impact on community outcomes.

What are Wanda Brown and Peter Hepburn's overall visions for the future of libraries, and what specific strategies could be implemented to address the challenge of engaging younger library users?

Both Wanda Brown and Peter Hepburn stress the importance of libraries adapting to meet community needs and remaining relevant. They also highlight the importance of promoting diversity, inclusion, advocacy, and member engagement. Missing from the discussion is a concrete plan on how to attract and retain younger library users, especially in an increasingly digital world. Strategies for leveraging technology to enhance library services and outreach to younger demographics would be beneficial.

In what ways does Peter Hepburn propose supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion through the ALA and ACRL, and what specific metrics are necessary to ensure the accountability and effectiveness of these efforts?

Peter Hepburn supports the ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and emphasizes the need for ALA and ACRL to commit resources to these efforts, providing guidance and serving as a model for libraries. It's unclear what specific performance indicators ALA and ACRL use to determine effective guidance for equity, diversity and inclusion. Concrete measurable outcomes and regular evaluation of these initiatives are essential for understanding their impact and ensuring accountability.