Message from ILA President Carolyn Ciesla
August 13, 2025
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Dear ILA Members:
I’m so honored to begin serving as your president for the 2025-26 term. This time of year at ILA is an exciting one, and feels so much like the beginning of a new school year. New board and committee members join us and we all reaffirm our commitment to this wonderful institution. I’ve spent this past year serving as president-elect and learning as much as possible about ILA and the people it supports. I’ve seen the truly excellent work of the committees, and I’ve also heard informally from members how happy they are to have a supportive association that provides numerous opportunities to gather and learn.
Under the very capable direction of Executive Director Cyndi Robinson, ILA has just completed the first year in its newly adopted strategic plan, and it’s been a good one. More details about that will be available in the annual report, to be published in the December ILA Reporter. I also want to highlight the work of the Executive Board’s DEI Subcommittee. Over the past year, the members of the subcommittee have created small programs and activities designed to inform and challenge board members, from learning how to create welcoming spaces for neurodivergent patrons to examining microaggressions and discussing how to address them in our libraries. This work helps create more inclusive libraries for our patrons and our staff. I’m excited to see what the members of the subcommittee will bring to the board this year.
ILA programs and initiatives depend so heavily on our various forum and committee members. Just this month, the board reviewed, approved, and lauded the creation of the Illinois Public Library Standards by the Serving Our Public Committee. Headed by committee chair Betsy Adamowski, this new initiative is a revision of the previous Serving Our Public 4.0: Standards for Illinois Public Libraries. This version is available online, and available to not only library directors and workers, but trustees and patrons as well. Congratulations to Betsy and the committee for this very important resource.
Lastly, I can’t wait for the Annual Conference in Rosemont this October 14-16. This was my first time participating in the creation of this event and I am in awe of the work that goes into it—and how seamless it is for attendees. I want to extend my thanks to the incredible Conference Program Committee as well as ILA staff for all of their hard work. As for the conference program itself, I am beyond thrilled at our slate of invited speakers this year. As you know, the theme of the conference is “You Belong Here,” emphasizing that everyone belongs in our libraries, patrons and staff alike. Dr. Terrell Strayhorn has been studying belonging and its many facets for decades, and I’m so glad that we’re able to bring his message and his vibrancy to ILA. I’m still pinching myself that Shermann Dilla will be joining us. His work with public history bringing often overlooked areas and people into the foreground is inspirational as well as fascinating. I hope you can join us!
I’m so looking forward to this upcoming year. I can’t wait to see all of the ways your libraries continue to support your communities, and the innovation and thoughtfulness you all bring to your libraries. We are headed into potentially choppy waters, but I have faith in our leadership and our teams to guide us through. Together we are stronger.
Sincerely yours,
Carolyn Ciesla
President
Illinois Library Association
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