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CHICAGO – ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) is gearing up for its upcoming election. Polls will open at 9 a.m. Central Time on Monday, March 9, 2020. ¾«¶«´«Ã½members are encouraged to cast a digital ballot to vote for association-wide leadership that will shape the future and direction of the association. ALA’s annual election will close on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.

“The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ of tomorrow relies on the stewardship of its members today,” said ¾«¶«´«Ã½Executive Director Tracie D. Hall. “A huge part of that work involves selecting peer leaders who have the vision and commitment to move the association forward. We are at a pivotal time in our history – there is much change needed and much opportunity that lies ahead. Every vote is necessary because it will provide a requisite mandate for the future ¾«¶«´«Ã½President, Executive Board and Council leadership. Every vote moves us toward our future and the impact we can create.”

ALA’s 2021 – 22 presidential election includes , city librarian at Santa Monica (Calif.) Public Library, and , assistant director, University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies. Both candidates participated in the that took place at the 2020 ¾«¶«´«Ã½Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . Voters also will select 33 ¾«¶«´«Ã½Councilors-at-Large from a pool of 73 candidates. Biographical information about the Councilor-at-Large candidates is available on the .

Members can learn more about this year’s candidates by reviewing “.” The guide contains general information about the ¾«¶«´«Ã½presidency and candidates, recent ¾«¶«´«Ã½presidential initiatives and council information.

When the polls open, ¾«¶«´«Ã½will notify voters by e-mail, providing them with information about how to vote online. Emails will be sent over a three-day period, March 9 – 11. To ensure receipt of your ballot, members should watch for emails from: “¾«¶«´«Ã½Governance Office” at noreply@directvote.net.

¾«¶«´«Ã½members began to receive notification by email confirming their eligibility to vote on Feb. 19. Eligible voters are ¾«¶«´«Ã½members in good standing as of Jan. 31, 2020.

¾«¶«´«Ã½elections take place exclusively online to reduce the association’s carbon footprint and to enhance efficiency. Those without Internet access at home or work can access the election site by visiting their local library.

¾«¶«´«Ã½Election Committee will meet at ¾«¶«´«Ã½headquarters on April 8 to certify election results. ¾«¶«´«Ã½leadership, members and the general public will receive notification of election results later in the day.

For more information on the election, call (800) 545-2433, ext. 5, or email membership@ala.org.

¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, ¾«¶«´«Ã½has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.