Local Librarians Elected to National Office

Clinton-Macomb Public Library Director and former Oakland Township resident Larry Neal and Rochester Hills Public Library Director and resident Christine Lind Hage recently won election to prestigious positions within national library leadership.  Neal has been elected the 2014-15 President of the Public Library Association (PLA).  Hage has been elected 2014-15 President of United for Libraries.  Both will bring the voice of Michigan libraries with them as they assume these leadership positions in these national professional associations.

“This is a career highlight,” Neal said.  “I feel deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve such an outstanding organization that works to strengthen public libraries and library professionals.”  PLA serves more than 9,000 members nationally and is one of the fastest growing divisions of the American Library Association (ALA).  Founded in 1944, PLA provides a diverse program of continuing education, publications, advocacy and programming for its members and others interested in the advancement of public library service.

“I am so honored to have been elected to serve as president of United for Libraries,” said Hage.   United for Libraries brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century.  “Having worked in public libraries for more than 42 years, I appreciate all the hard work that friends, trustees, advocates and foundations do on behalf of America’s libraries. I believe that every community deserves a great library, and United for Libraries is just the group to help America’s libraries achieve that goal,” Hage added.

Both will serve three-year terms starting this summer.  “At a national level United for Libraries can join with other ALA voices to speak on behalf of library users.  Larry and I are confident that we can bring the concerns of Michigan library users to the national stage.”

Neal and Hage are no strangers to library leadership or to each other.  Hage has served as an ALA councilor and chaired several ALA committees. She was a board member of the Association for Library Trustees and Advocates, the precursor to United for Libraries. She is the author of The Public Library Start-Up Guide.  Neal has longstanding involvement in PLA, serving on the PLA Board (2006-09) and numerous PLA committees.  He is a past president of the Michigan Library Association and named a 2007 Library Journal Mover and Shaker. Neal worked in several capacities under Hage for 23 years at both the Rochester Hills Public Library and the Clinton-Macomb Public Library. Together the two oversaw the design and construction of four library buildings.

“Christine has been an outstanding mentor and I continue to follow in her footsteps as she is also a past-president of PLA. We’re both looking forward to advocating for and advancing libraries, library professionals and library supporters on a national scale,” Neal said.