2026 WLA Candidate Statements

Board Candidate Statements | Division Candidate Statements | Section Candidate Statements

Candidates for WLA leadership positions were asked to answer four questions for their candidate statement:

What skills and experience would you bring to the position you are seeking?
What past involvement have you had with WLA?
Where would you like to see WLA and the Division/Section in the future, and what would you do to move it toward that vision?
WLA is committed to promoting EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) within the library profession, our association, and our communities. How do you see yourself upholding these values as a leader?

Voting is open to WLA Members Sept. 3-17. Please review all candidates statements before casting your votes.

Thank you to all of the 2026 WLA Elections Candidates!

Board Candidate Statements

Vice President/President-Elect

Sara Jones

I have been in the library profession for nearly 40 years. I have worked in three public libraries, serving as a
Children’s Librarian and Director, and was also the State Librarian in Nevada. I was the Nevada Library Association President and the President of the Califa (A membership organization dedicated to providing library products and services to members). I lead both non-profit library organizations through strategic planning processes and financial challenges. I served as Nevada’s ALA Councilor. I have strong administrative and financial management experience, including successful grant application and management skills. I am a passionate advocate for libraries and understand the local, state and federal government environments.

I am anticipating retirement from my position in mid-2026 but would like to continue a leadership role in libraries, particularly in these very challenging times. Now is the time for all types of libraries to find common ground, work together for the success of all and unite in the value we provide in all the services we provide in every type of library.

I have traveled this state extensively visiting communities and libraries from Asotin to Camas, Winthrop to Bellingham. I understand the need for our advocacy efforts to be tailored to a community’s stakeholders and be heard at the national level with decision makers.

I am actively engaged in WLA, serving as Chair of the WLFFTA and partnering with WLA in fighting against censorship in our libraries, including successful changes to the RCW to make dissolution of library districts more difficult. I actively and consistently engage with the legislative committee and the lobbyists and support successful library legislative day activities. I regularly attend conferences and meetings.

A successful state library association is a critical component of a library community. It is uniquely positioned to work across all types of libraries, library employees, friends, parent organizations, trustees and stakeholders. The leadership should be transparent and responsive to the membership and thoughtfully balance the responsibilities to serve all.

The Association will be most successful when it can be a trusted partner with a variety of aligned groups. Partnerships take hard work, good communication, conflict resolution and the willingness to share common ground.

I believe I have the appropriate skills to support WLA in facing its own organizational challenges. My experience allows me to establish and engage partnerships and support in advancing this organization to not just survive but to thrive even in these challenging times.

I am committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and accessibility. I have completed significant training from GARE (Government Alliance for Race & Equity) and led lasting initiatives to support DEI in libraries. I believe DEI work is not about projects or programs, but a lens that is used for all our work. Always asking the question of who benefits and who is burdened from decisions, actions and programs. My work at the State Library consistently demonstrates a strong focus on expanding services to underserved communities and growing the diversity of our profession. DEI is a guiding force for me as a person and a professional.

Board Director, Academic Libraries Representative

Ahniwa Ferrari

I have many, many years of experience across a lot of roles, including: Academic board representative, WLA vice-president/president/past-president, Division/Section chair, and I was also Treasurer for ACRL-WA in the years leading up to the merger with WLA.

More involvement for more library staff across the state. More opportunities to build community and have conversations among WLA members. I'd consider outreach methods and platforms to get people involved and push for their implementation.

Library work is equity work! I created the Presidential Summit events series and helped to organize the first one, which was around Accessibility in Libraries. I pushed WLA to consider donations to the tribes upon whose land our conferences were held. I've done a lot more in day to day work (and probably too much to list) but I hold these values dear and put them at the front of my work.

Board Director, Public Libraries Representative

Erin Atwater

I can bring a passion for collaboration and a drive to connect library professionals throughout Washington State. As a librarian I have led and assisted with multiple collaborative projects. I am the current library liaison to the Friends of the Library, and regularly facilitate communication, statics, scheduling, and procedural changes between the Friends and library staff. I have strong communication skills, both in person and virtual, and have experience bringing talented individuals together. I am passionate about professional development and am continually looking for new opportunities to learn and connect within the library profession. I have had the privilege of working with new library staff and students to introduce them to professional resources, as well as experience coordinating between the library and community organizations.

As a Washington Library Association member and 2025 Chair of the Public Library Division, I was instantly drawn to the brilliant and passionate group of library professionals that I met and had the privilege of working with. During my involvement with WLA I have helped to organize division newsletters, tabling at conferences, meetups, and virtual meetings. The individuals I met through WLA inspired me to become more involved with the association and the important work that is happening. I am drawn to the WLA because it is a diverse and active organization that is both locally minded and globally aware.

In the future I would like to see the WLA and the Public Library Division grow in numbers and visibility. I believe that the WLA Public Library division is a bridge that connects Public Libraries of all sizes to each other and greater resources, and I hope to help it further connect library staff to share ideas and support on another. Furthermore, I would like to facilitate communications and connections between WLA Divisions, Sections, and the Board; in order to become a more cohesive organization that recognizes the overlapping interests and needs of library professionals.

As a leader and librarian, I believe in encouraging inclusivity for all library professionals to develop through exciting trainings and seminars. Creating and facilitating meetings and events that accommodate neurodiverse and physically diverse professionals, has become a passion of mine and I am excited to bring these skills to WLA. Inclusivity is a cornerstone of libraries, because they are a safe place for everyone regardless of background. I believe that outreach, open communication, and enthusiastic support are intrinsic to reaching diverse communities and supporting the libraries that serve them. With WLA I hope to assist in creating a diverse environment where library professionals feel supported and encouraged to grow.

Audrey Barbakoff

I blend almost 20 years of practical experience in libraries with a field-wide, research-informed perspective gained from scholarship and strategic planning. I understand the needs and goals of many different types of libraries and library workers, as my experience includes children’s services, teen services, adult and senior services, research subject specialties including business and demography, bookmobile and outreach services, and management. I’ve worked in a rural library serving 500 people and a 50-branch system serving well over a million. To continue learning about best practices and practical realities for libraries and library workers of all kinds, I earned a doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership (University of Southern California, 2021) in addition to my MLIS (University of Washington, 2010). Now, as a consultant who provides community-centered planning and training to libraries of all types, I continue to learn about best practices and practical realities in libraries of all sizes and types across the country.

As a longtime WLA member, I have participated in a variety of ways over the years. I am a member of the Public Library division and multiple sections including IFS, LiFE, SAIL, SRRT, and WALT. I co-chaired the Advocacy Committee in 2023, when our work included support for legislation on increasing school librarian positions and updating and streamlining communication tools to help libraries seeking advocacy support. I am also actively engaged in conferences, presenting pre-conferences and both virtual and in-person conference sessions. I am also active in ALA nationally, where I support and represent issues that matter to Washington libraries; I have served on ALA Council, ALA Policy Corps, LLAMA (now Core) Board of Directors, and chaired IFRT and the Emerging Leaders program.

I would like to help WLA continue increasing its support and advocacy of libraries and library workers in a challenging political, social, and fiscal environment. We need strong advocacy at the legislative level, such as restoring funding for our state library, and easy to access support, tools, and training for individual libraries and librarians facing challenging situations. To move us towards that vision, I would focus on communication. We need to work together – as professionals, as an association, and with our counterparts nation-wide – to make real impacts.

EDI is central to who I am as a leader. All my work and research has focused on how libraries can center and co-create with community. Community-building work fundamentally requires an equity lens. Authentic participation can only happen when we nurture safe and welcoming spaces that center those most impacted. Just as I work every day to help libraries create these spaces for their users and staff, I would bring the same ethos to my leadership in WLA. As a community of librarians and library workers, we need leaders who prioritize making WLA a place that embraces our complete, intersectional identities and meets us where we are. When we have the internal supports for a diverse and inclusive profession via our professional association, we are more empowered to provide equitable services in our communities.

Barbara Walters Headshot of Barbara Walters

As Executive Director of NCW Libraries, I oversee a 30-branch district with more than 100 staff serving five counties across 14,500 square miles.Through this role, I have developed experience in executive leadership, strategic planning, fiscal oversight, and governance. I manage a $16 million budget and work closely with a governing board of trustees, county commissioners, and community stakeholders. I have served on numerous local boards, including the NCW Tech Alliance and the Accountable Community of Health, experiences that have strengthened organizational partnerships and expanded community impact.

I have previously served on the WLA Public Library Division during the pandemic, a time when libraries faced unprecedented challenges. This gave me a deeper appreciation for the vital role WLA plays in bringing people together to share resources, problem-solve, and advocate for libraries statewide. I have also valued participating in Library Legislative Day and engaging with colleagues across divisions.

I would like to see WLA continue to build an organization that supports all libraries across Washington State, regardless of size, division, or geography. In a time when budgets are under pressure, WLA has the opportunity to help libraries navigate challenges through advocacy, resource-sharing, and professional development. I would contribute by strengthening partnerships, promoting transparency, and elevating the voices of WLA members.

At NCW Libraries, my team has expanded outreach to underserved populations through initiatives like the Know Your Rights campaign, citizenship classes, and hosting naturalization ceremonies. Our collections and programs are intentionally developed to reflect diverse voices and perspectives. I believe libraries must actively work to dismantle barriers to accessing our vital resources and spaces. As a WLA leader, I would continue to build on this work by listening, learning, and advocating for policies and practices that create more inclusive libraries across our state.

Board Director, School Libraries Representative

Elizabeth Roberts

I bring a deep understanding of the needs and challenges facing school libraries, grounded in my thirteen years experience as a teacher-librarian, over five years of service on the Washington Library Association’s School Library Division Steering Committee, including my year serving as Chair. I have served as the appointed School Library Division Representative for the past year, providing a seamless continuation of leadership when the previous representative stepped down. In both roles, I have built strong relationships across the WLA community and represented school librarians’ interests at all levels of our organization.

Beyond WLA, I have been a consistent and vocal advocate for school libraries in my district and across Washington State, working to elevate the role of certified teacher-librarians and equitable access to library resources for all students. I bring skills in strategic planning, communication, and consensus-building, as well as a commitment to ensuring the voices of school library professionals are heard and valued within WLA’s broader mission.

I have been actively involved with WLA for more than five years through the School Library Division (ScLD). I began as a Steering Committee member, contributing to statewide initiatives, professional development planning, and advocacy efforts for school libraries. I later served as Chair of the Steering Committee, where I coordinated division activities, facilitated member engagement, and collaborated with other WLA committees and leadership to ensure school library perspectives were represented.

For the past year, I have served as the appointed School Library Division Representative to the WLA Board, stepping into the role mid-term to maintain continuity when the elected representative resigned. This experience has given me direct insight into WLA’s governance, board operations, and strategic priorities, as well as strengthened my commitment to advancing the association’s mission and supporting all members.

I envision WLA as a strong, united organization where divisions and sections work together to address challenges, celebrate the joys of librarianship and amplify our collective voice. While we are currently navigating financial concerns, I believe our greatest strength lies in our ability to collaborate across all areas of the association. By fostering deeper connections between divisions, we can identify shared priorities, create joint initiatives, and make the most of our collective expertise to serve members more effectively.

My goal is to help strengthen those cross-division partnerships so that WLA can remain resilient in the face of challenges and continue its legacy as a vibrant, forward-looking professional organization. I believe that by listening to each other, combining our skills, and focusing on the common good, we can not only weather this difficult period but also position WLA for long-term growth and impact.

I believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to the strength and relevance of both our profession and our association. As a leader, I strive to create spaces where all voices are welcomed, respected, and heard—especially those from underrepresented communities. I approach this work by listening first, seeking to understand diverse perspectives, and making decisions that reflect the needs and experiences of the broad membership we serve.

In WLA, this means supporting policies, programs, and professional development opportunities that reduce barriers to participation and representation. It also means encouraging cross-division conversations that center EDI values in everything from advocacy efforts to conference planning. I am committed to modeling inclusive leadership by amplifying the voices of others, challenging inequities when I see them, and ensuring that our work as an association reflects the rich diversity of our libraries and the communities they serve.

Board Positions

If you're interested in running for one of the following Board positions, please contact [email protected].

Student Representative to the Board

Division Candidate Statements

Academic Library Division/ACRL-WA Chair

Greg Bem

As I have demonstrated over time, I enjoy fostering ongoing leadership within WLA and other library organizations, as well as contributing to consistent service as a library leader within multiple communities in Washington. My timeline in Washington libraries now exceeds a decade, and I look forward to pushing it further.

My commitment to and interest in WLA started since I was in grad school in 2012. After graduating and entering Community and Technical College libraries, I helped to co-transition CLAMS to CLAWS and served in CLAWS leadership. I have served in ALD in multiple roles throughout the years. I have presented at WLA conferences multiple times. I am excited about ongoing consistency and radical new ways to be involved in WLA as a professional association, which is one of the key library structures that can help develop mass movement to transform libraries for good across the state.

I would like to see ongoing growth in participation/engagement in communication, events, and the overall community. We have seen this over the last couple of years since COVID winded down, but there is much more to be done regarding representation--of all library workers in academic libraries. Greater partnerships with other organizations like the Library Leadership Council is also a forever goal. The ship is afloat and steered but we need to move along to designing stronger trajectories and bringing greater intentionality to our journey as a division.

EDI is more than an acronym and consists of real learning and real work being done by all division members, including leadership. My ongoing commitment to EDI can be observed through my institutional contributions at SCC, as well as in my personal life through the work I do in libraries and beyond. I believe that equity conversations should take place within every topic and functional space that the association operates. So far equity has shown up as subtext and a layer within ALD work, and I look forward to it staying centered as we continue our work.

Academic Library Division/ACRL-WA Secretary/Communications

Heidi Hetzel

For the past year, I have chaired our library's Display Committee which involves three book displays that are rotated each quarter based on different themes. Upon become chair of the Committee, I inherited a SharePoint folder full of meeting minutes, spreadsheets, and policy documentation. I have continued to add meeting minutes, populate spreadsheets as we rotate displays, and refer to policy to update feedback forms and communicate to campus partners and patrons. In addition to the Display Committee, I also participate in Library Faculty Group meetings in which I have recorded meeting minutes and votes on various topics related to the library. Through these experiences, I have gained skills in active listening, asking clarifying questions, and attention to detail in order to keep files organized an easily accessible.

I have been a WLA member for two years and attended the 2025 ACRL Conference.

As a professional who earned my MLIS through a distance learning program outside of the state of Washington, I would like to see WLA, Academic Library Division/ACRL-WA increase its reach to MLIS students and early career librarians in Washington who may not be as familiar or aware of ways they can participate or engage in statewide library networks. With this personal experience, I hope to increase awareness and engagement with all stages of MLIS students and early career librarians and library workers. Participating in the Secretary/Communications Position would allow me to see first-hand how organizations such as WLA operate, communicate, and advance initiatives. This insight would be valuable going forward in advocating for library professionals who would benefit from increased outreach and engagement in WLA.

As a librarian in a position focused on access and affordability, my professional approach is focused on equity and inclusion in higher education and continued learning. On a broader scale, Seattle University values "educating the whole person" as part of Jesuit education. Helping to provide a holistic experience for students that involves educating the whole person means encouraging students to bring their diverse perspectives and experiences to campus. My hope is to bring this combination of professional and educational values to the position of Secretary/Communications as we consider the difficult times that academic, college and research libraries face while navigating the evolution of higher education.

Academic Library Division/ACRL-WA Communications Manager

Natalie Brown

I have been the marketing manager for the UW Libraries Silent Reading Party committee for the past year.
This has included making flyers, social media posts, and digital/physical signage for our event, reaching out to various on campus groups for collaboration, and replying to student feedback. I also revived the ALD/ACRL-WA Newsletter its year long hiatus. I received responses from ALD members across the state, and I would be thrilled to produce more newsletters in the next year.

This was my first year being involved with the WLA in any way. I have been the ALD/ACRL-WA Communications Manager since April 2025. It's been a wonderful experience so far, and I would be happy to continue working with the ALD.

I would like to keep the division running as smooth as we can with the possibility to expand what we offer members as we gain support.

As a femme person of color, I know how hard it is to make our voices heard in leadership spaces. I want to take my place at the drawing board and paint it with all the colors that I bring to the table. I hope that the perspectives that I bring will help to create a space for leaders of color to join in the creation of a more inclusive institution.

Academic Library Division/ACRL-WA Member-at-Large

Sarah Pine

I've been an academic librarian since 2017 and have served on various committees and planning groups in my institution, as well as within the Science & Technology Section of ACRL. I have experience leading, coordinating, and promoting events, and enjoy working in teams with colleagues to achieve a shared objective.

I served as a WLA Academic Library Division mentor last year, which was a wonderful experience, and I am on the planning committee for the 2025 ALD/ACRL-WA & ACRL-OR Joint Fall Conference.

I would love to see the Academic Libraries Division continue to be a place for academic librarians in WA and OR to connect and learn from one another, and to strengthen our local professional ties. This is an isolating and frustrating time to work in education and librarianship, and we're seeing a lot of contractions in funding and therefore hiring in our field which is a huge hit to morale. I want to help WLA be a medium our colleagues can use to find community, share knowledge, and build each other up. As Member-at-Large many of my main responsibilities would center around encouraging membership, promoting events, and awarding grants for event attendance, which all form part of community building.

In this position I would work to uphold EDI values by critically engaging how we offer and promote events and grants, ensuring we are reaching all members to the best of our ability, and working to provide effective avenues for engagement to all members. The ALD covers both Oregon and Washington, two states with large and geographically dispersed populations and it can be challenging to build community in those conditions, but I would like to work to make it so academic librarians from diverse backgrounds and institutions across all our region can feel engaged with their division.

Academic Library Division/ACRL-WA Positions

If you're interested in running for one of the following Academic Library Division/ACRL-WA positions, please contact [email protected].

Vice Chair/Chair-Elect (serves as chair in 2027)
Student Representative

Public Library Division - Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

Carol Ellison

I have proudly worked in public libraries for over 25 years. I’ve served in different leadership capacities in WLA, most recently as the Board Director, Public Libraries Representative. I've also served as Vice Chair and then Chair for the Public Library Division at the start of the pandemic. Leading PLD in such a chaotic time, I quickly learned (and relearned!) effective ways to make connections, share resources, and support others during periods of immense change. I have an established working relationship with current PLD leadership, and I’m passionate about public libraries and the people who work in them. I would love to continue serving the Division as your next Vice Chair/Chair-Elect.

I’ve been a WLA member since 2005. I’ve volunteered for several WALE conference planning committees, WALE scholarship/awards committees, and volunteered at every WALE and WLA conference I’ve attended. I was elected WALE Secretary in 2013, WLA Public Library Division Vice Chair/Chair-Elect in 2020, and Board Director, Public Libraries Representative in 2023. This year I've also served as board liaison to the Member Services Committee. I'm a past recipient of the WALE Outstanding Employee of the Year Award, and past participant in the WLA mentorship program.

I would love to see WLA attract new members and incite enthusiasm for participation in committees, interest groups, and leadership. I’ve long been someone who works across departmental lines and actively works to bring seemingly dissimilar groups together. I think with some planning and creativity, we can bring in new voices and fresh perspectives to our organization.

I uphold EDI values as part of my day job as a cataloging assistant, and I would take a similar approach in this role. Strategies include: active listening; amplifying diverse voices; stepping back and encouraging others to share so that everyone’s perspectives have a chance to be heard; calling out microaggressions and problematic behaviors; revising outdated policies and procedures. We are strongest when we can create a safe environment where everyone is respected and heard. Thank you.

If you're interested in running for the following Public Library Division positions, please contact [email protected].

Secretary/Communications

School Library Division - Chair

Rachel Peters

I've been a part of this division for nearly a year, meeting regularly and working as part of OLLI. I'm Nationally Board Certified and hold an endorsement in Library Media and Educational Technology. I was also chosen as NCCE's first Librarian of the Year. I seek to promote school library programs and to make sure every Washington School has an endorsed, certificated school librarian.

See above. I've been a WLA member for two years.

I would like the division to become more active in educating and promoting Washington State laws related to school libraries to WA State schools, helping them to understand the power of an endorsed, certificated teacher librarian.

I actively seek to hear and consider all voices and opinions. I believe in a democratic process and will abide by decisions made by the School Library division regardless if they are my views or wishes.

School Library Division - Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

Mia Roberts

I have been the secretary this past year and hope to continue to grow and develop in the role. I am organized, communicate well and work well in groups and on my own. I am excited to work for the continued support and to spread the word about the work WLA is doing to support libraries and librarians in Washington State.

Member and the ScLD Secretary position for 1 year.

I am excited to continue to represent and find ways to have libraries and librarians continue to develop into the critical people and places to help the community, schools, and individuals grow through reading and access to materials to further knowledge and education everywhere. To be able to grant continued access to libraries and librarian to help foster the growth of all individuals in all parts of the state with equity and funding to provide robust programs for all who desire to experience at school and in the public libraries in their community.

Equity, diversity and inclusion are essential in a library program. The library and the curation are for the members, and they should see themselves in the space. Knowledge is for all, and a multitude of information must be available for all to create a divers way of thinking and researching to find facts and gain knowledge and perspective. Many voices help us to see and understand each other and then learn to support and empathies with others during hard or confusing situations. Libraries bring people together and create safe spaces for all to feel welcome. I want to continue to be a voice for those who are shy or misrepresented and provide them a way to access information and to grow from the experience of interacting and hearing their views. I want to continue to provide training and opportunity for members and non-members to learn about WLA and what it can offer them as well as how it can support and provide a platform for representing the profession to further educate on legislative issues as well as current thinking in the library management and curation for developing accessible and diverse libraries and librarians around the state and beyond.

School Library Division Positions

If you're interested in running for the following School Library Division positions, please contact [email protected].

Secretary/Communication

Special Library Division

Special Library Division- Chair

Crystal Hicks

I previously held a number of positions in the Texas Library Association, as well as leadership positions in other organizations.

I have been Vice Chair of the division and the Co-Chair of the GAP Committee.

I’d like to see WLA and our divisions/sections positioned as true hubs of connection, advocacy, and professional energy. Washington librarians are working in challenging times. To thrive, WLA should continue to be the place where librarians come not only for professional development, but also for solidarity and vision.

For me, upholding EDI as a leader means treating it as a constant practice, not a one-time initiative. It starts with listening and making space for voices that have historically been excluded from library conversations and decision-making. As a leader, I would work to ensure that meetings, programs, and communications are accessible, welcoming, and representative of the communities we serve.

If you're interested in running for the following Special Library Division positions, please contact [email protected].

Vice Chair/Chair-Elect (serves as chair in 2027)
Secretary/Communications

Section Candidate Statements

Children & Young Adult Services (CAYAS) - Chair

Anna Morrow

I bring two years of experience as a youth services librarian and two (nearly three!) years of experience working with CAYAS. I love being a part of the work we do to support youth services library staff across Washington state. I'm committed to continuing that work by communicating and collaborating effectively with my fellow CAYAS committee members.

I've been a member of WLA for four years and served on CAYAS for two years now. I was the incoming Chair/vice chair of CAYAS last year.

I'd love to see CAYAS continue to host more knowledge sharing sessions and trainings for youth services library staff. I think offering free or low cost trainings that help youth services library staff connect with one another and grow professionally is a great goal for CAYAS. We've successfully done this at WLA conferences in the past couple of years, but I'd love to help us expand and offer trainings at other times of the year.

I see myself upholding EDI by working to make the CAYAS committee and CAYAS sponsored events safe and welcoming spaces. I am committed to finding new ways to reach out and support youth services library staff across WA.

Children & Young Adult Services (CAYAS) - Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

Amelia Lincoln Ecevedo

I have been a children's librarian for 12 years, serving the community in which I grew up. It’s an asset most times to have the community relationships and historical context for a lot of what goes on in my professional life. However, I live on an island that is physically separated by the mainland, and sometimes I feel isolated even from my colleagues in the library system where I work. I love the engagement that WLA and CAYAS provide for librarians to connect to other outside of their immediate circle of colleagues. It’s been very valuable for me to broaden my communication and sharing outside of my little community, and outside of the system where I work.
I have lots of experiences with programming, school engagement, collection development, community partnerships, and budget management. I have two in-person story times and one online story time per week, and a monthly weekend family story time. For school-aged kids, I run a weekly afterschool program which focuses on STEM projects and seasonal crafts, and monthly LEGO programs. I manage OTTER and Sasquatch programs at my local school district and hope to expand to the Washington State Children’s Choice Picture Book Award with the kindergarten classes this year. I also do outreach with our local food bank and with the community’s afterschool care program, and plan to add a Ukulele Jam program starting in the fall. In the summers, I coordinate the Summer Reading Program at our branch.
I love to host programs at the library which draw patrons in and help them create a sense of ownership of the library and seeing it as a place where they belong. I also love to go out into the community to bring library resources to those who have barriers to visiting the library building.

Last year I was a member of the CAYAS board and attended planning meetings. During that time, I facilitated a CAYAS-hosted sharing session for youth services librarians to gather ideas and connect with each other, as well as helping to plan other sessions with different ages and topics such as school connections, afterschool programming, story times, and teen programming.
I also helped plan and implement CAYAS’s pre-conference ukulele training at the 2025 WLA conference. In the morning, participants joined a Tacoma Youth Symphony teacher for a beginning ukulele lesson, and in the afternoon they learned some entry-level songs to use for story times straight from children’s librarians.
The session was a really great opportunity for librarians to gain solid and immediately usable skills for story times, going home with a booklet of story time music. Playing music together, and being vulnerable in learning a new skill, also created a lovely sense of shared community in the room and inspired a few people to try out a ukulele jam in the library (myself included!)
Apart from CAYAS, I am a member of the Washington State Children's Choice Picture Book Award selection committee.

I am really proud of the online sharing sessions and in-person WLA pre-conference training that CAYAS did last year. It’s so valuable for librarians to see each other as part of a wide group of colleagues who are here to help. Even in the best of circumstances, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut or to continue doing what has been successful in the past. It can also be easy to get lost in the norms of one system or community. Talking to people from different communities and different library systems is a great way to get new ideas and fresh perspectives. It’s also a great way to share big successes with others who can benefit from them. Librarians are by nature such friendly and helpful people, it’s lovely to give that feeling a platform to really shine.
I would love to continue these online sessions, and possible even expand them. Near the end of the year, I could see some relationships and familiarity building, which was really sweet to see. I can imagine that continuing into the future and gathering more participants.
CAYAS just started up a Discord channel, which I would love to see expand as well. Face-to-face (or on a screen) communication is really wonderful, but not everyone has the resources or scheduling flexibility to attend live sessions. Having asynchronous communication is an important tool for accessibility, and also a great way to share links, photos and other digital resources, or to make personal connections.

The library should be a place where everyone feels seen and heard, and has equal access to tools for success. Whenever I am choosing books for a display for story time, I make choices that include a broad representation of kids and families. It’s important for kids to see themselves in the library, but also to have an opportunity to learn about others. I am also mindful to create an environment and adopt a communication style that is inclusive of patrons on the autism spectrum, and have worked to build relationships with patrons who need extra accommodations to feel welcome at the library.
I am always mindful to include all voices in decision-making and am a staunch supporter of "nothing about us without us." For me, this means reaching out to community organizations to coordinate programming that reflects our community, as well as hosting free authentic cultural programming that broadens the experiences of our patrons. It also means offering community informed programming that is responsive to the needs of our patrons.
I am continually seeking out training sessions to learn more about how we can improve library services to a diverse group of patrons, and would like to see WLA offer more opportunities to grow in this area.

CLAWS (College Libraries Across WA State) - Co-Chairs

Linda Keys

I'm passionate about finding practical solutions to our shared challenges—particularly reducing duplication of services when we're already stretched to capacity, fostering more transparent information sharing, and reigniting enthusiasm for our organization and the vital work that we do.

I’ve enjoyed working as a team with my 2025 CLAWS co-chair, Heather Newcomer. Together, we have made a good start, holding a virtual CLAWS Networking Meeting and discussion in Spring 2025, and collaborating with the WLA Academic Library Division to survey the needs of both CLAWS and ALD members. The survey results were shared during an unconference at the 2025 WLA Conference. The full results of that survey are available in the July 2025 edition of AKLI, in an article co-authored by Heather and me, along with our ALD partners, Elizabeth Brown and Lydia Bello.

Based on the results of our member survey, there is still much work to be done, and we have some exciting plans to enhance engagement and meet the needs of the CLAWS membership.

I bring an equity-minded approach to leadership, grounded in the understanding that libraries play a crucial role in dismantling barriers and creating inclusive spaces. My leadership philosophy centers on the belief that everyone deserves to have their experiences acknowledged and their voices shape the path forward. I strive to lead with humility and curiosity, knowing that the most effective solutions often come from listening deeply to our community and creating collaborative pathways for change.

Heather Newcomer

I am passionate about the work of college libraries, having worked at a college library for eight years. I appreciate the unique perspectives and challenges faced by library faculty and finding ways to support library faculty as WLA's CLAWS co-chair.

For the last year Linda Keys and I have collaborated as co-chairs of CLAMS. We collaborated with the Academic Library Division to survey members ALD and CLAWs members. We previewed our survey results at WLA during the Academic Unconference and published the full report in the July issue of ALKI. We hosted a virtual meet-up in Spring Quarter.

The input from our constituent groups has informed ALD/CLAWS plans to work together next year to launch an exciting new venture. Linda and I are look forward to continuing this important work in partnership with ALD in addition to CLAWS specific activities.

I am passionate about finding ways for CLAWS to continue facilitating information sharing and developing new ways to foster a strong sense of community support among CLAWS members. Linda and I are energized to continue to strategically incorporating the ideas of community college librarians who built CLAMS and sustained it for so long and new members who are bringing fresh ideas and perspectives.

Inclusively serving our diverse community, as a faculty librarian and as a WLA co-chair, is foundational in my approach to my work. I uphold these values by continuously learning and translating that learning into action in my instruction and collection management as well as my contributions to campus groups such as our Diversity Advisory Council, where I had the honor of serving as co-chair for four years.

CLAWS (College Libraries Across WA State) - Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

Hunter Hobbs

I have chair experience. I have previously worked in an academic library at a private university, so I know the issues that can arise in that space. I'm also currently in a master's program for information science, and some of my classes focuses on current trends in the academic library realm.

I have served as the chair of the Member Services Committee.

I'd love to create a connection between CLAWS and the LISS sections in order to better create networking opportunities for students. I think trying to create social events between the two would help keep connections going outside of WLA's conference. The social events could take place online as well to be more inclusive of people across the state.

One way I plan to uphold EDI is by re-evaluating the rules and social guidelines of libraries and WLA. One rule that used to be prevalent in libraries is that they have to be silent and one can't talk too loud. But that rule can make libraries feel unwelcoming to others. I approach this situation and others like it with an open mindset. I'm willing to change my behavior to be more inclusive by questioning societal rules and if I find that the rules are not inclusive then figuring out how to change them to be more welcoming.

Washington Library Trainers (WALT) - Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

Kate Dunphy

Prior to my three years with Bellingham Public Library, I have two decades of work experience (primarily in social work, non-profit management, and human resources). I previously served as a board secretary for a renter-owned multi-family housing association, and am well versed in recording meeting minutes. This experience will also serve me well scheduling and occasionally facilitating quarterly WALT meetings if the Chair is absent. I’ve been a WALT member for two years and deeply appreciate the work Maggie Mae Nase, Anja Johnson, and Sara Lena Jensen have done to re-energize our group. Many of our WALT library professionals function as departments of one within our organizations. WALT creates a space for us to share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and celebrate wins with colleagues who understand the nuances of our roles within libraries. I am motivated to keep building our group and would be proud to share responsibility for the administration of the Section.

I've been a WLA and WALT member for two years, attended the 2024 WLA conference in Spokane, and I administer my library's WLA memberships.

I'd like to see WLA and our Section continue to grow our membership numbers, with more districts and counties from around the state represented. Strengthening our community connections is paramount given the increased uncertainties we're collectively and individually facing. For WALT members, it would be great to add a training resources directory to our shared Section resources folder. Ideally this would be co-managed by our members so that any of us can update it, and we won't risk losing the knowledge if/when someone changes positions.

EDI values are best demonstrated through the actions we take. As a WALT vice-chair, my attention to differences in power, privilege, and opportunity will be crucial in all aspects of helping to administer our section. Conducting myself with cultural humility/naivete, asking who is missing from our group, and working to find the particulars of why (and to change them) will be my foundational actions.

WA Library Friends, Foundations, Trustees & Advocates (WLFFTA) - Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

Craig Seasholes

My career in school libraries and in WLA leadership have retired to an active role as Friend of the Library.

I have been the Division Chair, WLA president, current WLFFTA chair.

Washington Libraries need Friends, Foundations and Trustees to have a network of resources and individuals engaged in ongoing support of libraries in our communities.

My personal and professional life has reflected a commitment to promoting EDI.

Additional Section Positions

If you're looking to develop your leadership skills or provide members opportunities for connection and programming on a particular library topic, consider joining Section Leadership!

The following sections have openings in 2026:

CAYAS (Children's and Young Adult Services)
CLAWS (College Libraries Across Washington State)
IFS (Intellectual Freedom Section)

LISS (Library & Information Student Section)

SAIL (Serving Adults in Libraries)
SRRT (Social Responsibilities Round Table)
WALT (Washington Library Trainers)
WLFFTA (WA Library Friends, Foundations, Trustees & Advocates)