David Paige elected 2020-2021 United for Libraries president

For Immediate Release
Tue, 04/16/2019

Contact:

Jillian Wentworth

Manager of Marketing & Membership

United for Libraries

jwentworth@ala.org

EXTON, Pennsylvania — David Paige, Trustee at Conway (N.H.) Public Library and editorial director, Libraries Unlimited, has been elected 2020-2021 United for Libraries president. Paige will serve as president-elect during 2019-2020 under 2019-2020 United for Libraries President Peter Pearson

“I look forward to the opportunity to serve as the face of United for Libraries and a voice for library civic leaders in the broader association at a time of change,” said Paige. “Trustees, Friends, and Foundations are not bit players in the library advocacy work that is foremost among ALA’s strategic action areas — we are where the rubber meets the road. As library policy makers, we are also critical stakeholders in the association’s efforts to promote and defend principles of inclusion, equal access and intellectual freedom. These are challenges our civic leaders face head-on alongside library staff, but typically without sufficient professional training. Our libraries will be stronger for a national association that understands the central importance of the service of library civic leaders and meets our unique needs. For these reasons, I will work to ensure United keeps its seat at the table and has a strong voice within ALA.”

Paige has been a corporate at large member of the United for Libraries board since 2016. He has served on the Conway Public Library Board of Trustees since 2014 (as chair from 2016-2018 and treasurer since 2018). He has  been a professional editor for 16 years, culminating in his current work leading a team of editors at Libraries Unlimited, who produce LIS textbooks and professional books for practicing librarians of all types. Paige also served on the board of the Friends of the Carpinteria (Calif.) Public Library from 2010–2012, where he worked with colleagues on successful fundraising efforts, including outside-the-box events and a “Save Our Library” campaign in response to drastic cuts to public funding.

Four additional United for Libraries board positions were filled during the election. Kathleen McEvoy, vice president of communications for EBSCO Information Services, was elected Secretary. Charity Tyler, executive director of the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Public Library Foundation, and Kristi Pearson, executive director of the Friends of the Hennepin County (Minn.) Library,  were elected to Foundation-at-Large positions. Patricia Hofmann, president of Citizens for Maryland Libraries, was elected to a Friend-at-Large position.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. To join, please visit www.ala.org/united or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.