The Kansas City Public Library’s Cindy Hohl was inaugurated as the new American Library Association (ALA) president on Tuesday, July 2, at the annual ALA conference.

Hohl is the first ALA president from a Kansas City-area library, the first from a Missouri library in 90 years, and the second Native American to hold the position. She has been with the Library since 2018 and is the director of policy analysis and operational support.

Her presidential theme is “A Good Way for ALA,” which will focus on four main pillars of librarianship: intellectual freedom, literacy, learning and leadership.

“We are always stronger together, and we are poised to move forward in a good way, leaving no one to stand alone. Librarians are trusted professionals, and we will continue to stay the course,” Hohl said.

Just before assuming the position of president, Hohl received ALA’s inaugural Spectrum Changemaker Award for her advocacy and leadership work with BIPOC colleagues across the field.

She and fellow Missouri Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom committee members also accepted the Robert B Downs Intellectual Freedom Award 2024 for furthering the cause of intellectual freedom, particularly as it affects libraries and information centers and the dissemination of ideas.

A member of the Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska, Hohl has acted in roles in state, national, and international library organizations. This includes the American Indian Library Association (AILA) and others affiliated with the ALA, as well as the Freedom to Read Foundation – spearheading efforts opposing book banning and other censorship efforts.

Hohl said, “We have a lot of good work ahead of us in libraries, and I look forward to listening to feedback, hearing your ideas, and moving forward with that inspiration to uphold the professional ethics of our trusted profession as we highlight the high value of libraries.”

Find out more about Hohl and her ALA initiatives

Hohl sat down with the Library’s Public Affairs team to answer a few questions:

Q: When it was announced that you were the president-elect of the ALA, you said, “There has never been a better time to be a librarian!” How so? And what do you see as the primary challenge facing libraries today?

Cindy Hohl: For those working in libraries, our goal is always to connect people with equal access to information, and it is especially important that it is accurate information from credible sources. We uphold the library bill of rights to ensure that intellectual freedom remains protected for everyone, and we help library users receive the highest value of service.

We have seen increased activity online by posters sharing false information to dissuade or misinform readers and we are addressing misinformation because it is problematic. This is our chance to really shine in our profession, to help people see that quality information should be available and accessible for everyone.

This is the best time to be a librarian because we understand how to manage information and help people identify the accuracy of information to ensure proper content is shared for the target audience. Librarians are highly trained to help users search for jobs and services while also providing literacy-based programs. As trusted professionals, we manage these responsibilities with great care for the good of the community. The library's role is to be a safe place and community hub for information, literacy, and learning.

Q: What has this year been like for you as president-elect? Any highlights?

CH: Meeting with members and hearing about their work is both inspirational and helpful to see how important it is for everyone to feel a sense of belonging within ALA especially when they might not feel that support in their community.

I always love attending our American Library Association conferences and finding inspiration from all the attendees, emerging leaders, and movers and shakers. We had our LibLearnX Conference in Baltimore in January, and it was such a wonderful opportunity to gather with everyone and hear about their work and what is happening in their communities. I am looking forward to the next LLX25 gathering in Phoenix next January and hope to see many of you there!

The Public Library Association (PLA) also had a conference in April that was held in Ohio. The PLA conference is every other year and I always feel like it fills my cup; it is an opportunity to mingle with colleagues and peers and to hear from industry leaders as well. The exhibit hall is always a wonderful place to spend time meeting with vendors and hearing author talks.

When we have an opportunity to gather in these spaces, I always come back with inspiration and innovative ideas. Learning with colleagues from across the field provides me with the motivation to lean further into this work and I love meeting new members and students. There is so much good that comes from libraries, and we need to share these positive stories far and wide. We have much to celebrate and I look forward to recognizing library workers, trustees, and volunteers across the field.

I have also reflected deeply during these times of increased acts of censorship to understand these behaviors. Unfortunately, we are seeing many adverse actions across communities with an unprecedented level of book challenges; from terminations of employment and affiliation with the ALA, to legislation jeopardizing funding seeking removal of materials from library shelves. These actions reflect a desire for some to silence voices which has an adverse impact on everyone's First Amendment rights. Libraries and library workers are being targeted by those who have a misunderstanding of what it means for libraries to provide equal access to information and service for everyone in the community. Library staff are trusted professionals, and we need to show respect for these public servants working to help people live their best lives. When hearing that library workers are targeted with false accusations against their character or being made to feel like they are all alone, it is time to do better. The sharing of misinformation creates distractions that paint negative pictures of library services and that does not serve the community well. Librarians strive to support readership to provide equal access to information and a strong community has a strong library for everyone.

As we continue to hear about book deserts and a lack of access to broadband internet in communities across the country, it makes you wonder why there is an increased motivation to limit access to library services and materials. Taking adverse action against libraries is also an attack on the core values of the field and we must stand up for intellectual freedom for all. The library's key role is to uphold equal access to services and materials to uphold the First Amendment rights for everyone in this country.

When we look at states being targeted by those who seek to have school librarians remove books from the shelves, that is not a step toward increasing literacy in the community, but an act of exclusion to erase certain narratives. Even if that has not happened in your community, at least, hopefully, you can have some empathy for those who are impacted by those actions. If you see oppressive tactics being used to silence voices and this harmful practice is not serving your community in a good way, speak up to help make positive changes. Times like these require everyone to defend equal library access for all.

As we advocate for the library, expanding the community service net, and building sustainable relationships, we are at a critical time where we need to support each other across the field. We will always be stronger together.

Q: As the new president, you’re also a lot of “firsts.” Is there a certain weight or responsibility attached to being among the first?

CH: I'm very proud to serve as the first ALA President who is Dakota of the Santee Sioux Nation. Native Americans are all diverse peoples from unique communities; we all have our own culture, language, food, dance, regalia, and ways of knowing. Being raised Dakota, I have that lens that I look through when making decisions; I know who I am as a Dakota woman, and I am responsible for making sustainable decisions. It is a choice to walk between both worlds, between what it means to be Indigenous in this country and to recognize the mainstream and to work in those spaces together as one. It is an honor to be in service with my colleagues and peers across all sectors of the information field.

This is a responsibility that I absolutely feel the weight of, and I do not take this lightly. My goals are to make sure that I am serving the people as an Indigenous Leader while gaining understanding of our mutual goals in supporting humanity while also representing shared values and traditional beliefs in this work. Libraries are for everyone, and it has been my goal to increase Indigenous representation in this field.

The slogan of my year is “In a Good Way for ALA.” To work “in a good way” with others means that you're always taking into consideration the potential impact of your decisions as a leader. In our community, we're raised to understand that it is our responsibility to take care of all generations, from our elders to the unborn and everyone in between.

It’s important as I move into this position that I remember the reasons that I was elected by my peers, that I remember how to continue to be the voice of those who may feel marginalized or oppressed in society, and to always represent us in the best way possible.

In my time at the Kansas City Public Library – I have worked here for almost seven years, it is exciting to continue to see us grow and evolve in our service platform, in our national leadership voice, and to always make sure that we are the Library for the people. It is an honor to serve the Kansas City community and now, expanding outward on a global scale.

I'm very passionate about our work, and I love our Library and what we do for the community. Leading from the middle of the country, I will make sure that I remain very aware of our voice and that we are being inclusive and that we are helping everyone gather “in a good way.”