By: J.D. Ross
(315) 443-3094
Barbara K. Stripling, assistant professor of practice at the School of Information Studies (iSchool), has been elected to the presidency of the American Library Association (ALA) for 2013 – 2014.
Stripling defeated Gina.Millsap, CEO of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in Kansas.
As president of the ALA, Stripling will be the chief elected officer for the world’s oldest and largest library organization. ALA’s membership ranks include more than 60,000 librarians, library trustees and library supporters. The organization’s mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information
Stripling will become president-elect in June, and will then assume the presidency in June of 2013, following the ALA’s Annual Conference in Chicago. She will serve a one-year term as president and a one-year term as immediate past president.
“I am honored and humbled to have an opportunity to lead the American Library Association at this critical and exciting time for our nation’s libraries,” said Stripling. “I will dedicate myself to supporting our members’ efforts to transform their libraries into virtual and face-to-face community centers of conversation, equitable access to information, participatory learning, and civic engagement.”
Stripling joined the faculty at the iSchool in January, after serving for six years as Director of Library Services for New York City’s Department of Education. She has also served as an adjunct professor for the iSchool since 2007. Before her current role in New York City, she held a variety of positions with public school libraries in Arkansas, North Carolina, New York, and Tennessee.
Stripling received 6,272 votes, while Millsap received 4,486 votes.