The Public Library Association (PLA) is a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
Contact us any time you have questions. Office hours are 8:30 AM–4:30 PM Central, Monday–Friday. If no one is available when you call, please leave a message. All staff have voice mail and will respond as quickly as possible.
Mailing Address:
Public Library Association
225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60601
Telephone Toll Free:
800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752)
Staff extensions are the last four digits of their direct line listed below.
Fax:
312-280-5029
PLA does not solicit work for hire through external channels, including social media.
If you receive an email or message that appears to be from, sponsored by, or affiliated with ALA, PLA, or its divisions or round tables but seems suspicious, please forward the message immediately to confirm its legitimacy to membervalue@ala.org.
Who to Ask About…
- Administration and PLA Board – Mary Davis Fournier
- Committees and Governance – Talaisha Whitaker
- Communications – Eliana Tang Kleiman
- Conferences and Continuing Education:
- ALA Annual Conference/PLA Conference Educational Programming – placonference@ala.org
- Exhibits – KGJ Consulting, LLC
- Sponsorships – KGJ Consulting, LLC
- Webinars – plawebinars@ala.org
- Customer Service – pla@ala.org
- Data Initiatives – Sara Goek
- Project Outcome – info@projectoutcome.org
- Benchmark – plabenchmark@ala.org
- Digital Literacy – Larra Clark
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice – Mary Hirsh
- External Partnerships – Larra Clark
- Family Engagement – Mary Hirsh
- Grants Management – Mary Hirsh
- Leadership Initiatives – Mary Hirsh
- Marketing and Membership – Samantha Lopez
- Media/Public Relations – ALA Press Center
- Publications – Kathleen Hughes
- Websites/Technology – Steven Hofmann
PLA Staff Directory
Mary-Clare Bietila (she/her)
Program Manager, Programming Initiatives
312-280-5859
mbietila@ala.org
Responsible for project management of PLA special projects and initiatives.
Larra Clark (she/her)
Deputy Director, Policy
312-280-5861
lclark@ala.org
Responsible for working with the PLA staff, board, and external organizations to leverage and support research and outcome measurement, digital literacy, and partnerships.
Mary Davis Fournier (she/her)
Executive Director
312-280-5056
mfournier@ala.org
Responsible for directing activities of PLA. Coordinates policy implementation and strategic planning, prepares PLA budgets, serves as ex-officio member of PLA's Board of Directors, and serves as official contact for external organizations.
Sara Goek (she/her)
Project Manager, Data and Research
312-280-5841
sgoek@ala.org
Responsible for supporting PLA’s data and research efforts, and developing related training content.
Carya Haas (she/her)
Program Coordinator, Continuing Education
312-280-5858
chaas@ala.org
Responsible for customer service support of PLA webinars, continuing education programs, and conferences.
Mary Hirsh (she/her)
Deputy Director, Programs
312-280-5039
mhirsh@ala.org
Responsible for development, management, and coordination of program activities, including grants management and partnerships.
Steven Hofmann (he/him)
Digital Product Manager
312-280-5047
shofmann@ala.org
Responsible for management of PLA web and digital media initiatives and programs. Heads development of PLA web properties and implementation of web-based education.
Kathleen M. Hughes (she/her)
Manager, Publications
312-280-4028
khughes@ala.org
Responsible for Public Libraries magazine and serves as its editor, and manages PLA's publications program.
Katina Jones (she/her)
Program Manager, Evaluation and Assessment
312-280-5867
kjones@ala.org
Responsible for supporting Project Outcome, Benchmark, PLA's annual topical surveys, and other data and evaluation work.
Eliana Tang Kleiman (she/they)
Communications Associate
312-280-5018
ekleiman@ala.org
Responsible for PLA social media, member news, press releases, and assisting with general communications.
Samantha Lopez (she/her)
Manager, Marketing and Membership
312-280-5857
slopez@ala.org
Responsible for all PLA marketing activities, including initiatives, continuing education opportunities, and the biennial PLA Conference. Manages all membership promotion, retention, and engagement efforts.
Angela Maycock (she/her)
Manager, Continuing Education
312-280-5024
amaycock@ala.org
Responsible for oversight of the development and implementation of PLA's educational programs at PLA Conference and ALA conferences, as well as regional educational programs; and for creation of online educational programs, distance learning programs, and other new educational offerings for PLA.
Megan Stewart (she/her)
Program Officer
312-280-5026
mstewart@ala.org
Responsible for supporting PLA continuing education programs and conferences, as well as grant-funded initiatives.
Talaisha Whitaker (she/her)
Program Coordinator, Governance
312-280-5021
twhitaker@ala.org
Responsible for governance support and other administrative support.
KGJ Consulting, LLC
Melissa Faubel Johnson, CMP (she/her)
Meeting and Special Events Planner
312-280-5022
mfaubel@ala.org
Responsible for management of exhibits, site review, hotel contracts, and major events and programs at PLA Conference, including opening and closing sessions, luncheons, as well as major events such as the PLA President’s Breakfast at the ALA Annual Conference.