Library advisory board recommends dropping ALA membership, urges focus on literacy

The Library Advisory Board recommended that the Victoria Public Library cancel its institutional membership in the American Library Association and urged the council and the community to boost reading and literacy initiatives for children and adults in the city.

Board Chair Sarah Zeller told the council the board voted to recommend canceling the library’s memberships with the ALA and to “use alternative sources for trainings.” Jessica Burger, the library director, described the board’s work reviewing bylaws, policy updates and strategic priorities.

The board’s recommendation came after months of review and debate, Zeller said, and stemmed from concerns that the ALA “has truly veered away from the tradition of neutrality and librarianship,” including, in the board’s view, organizational positions on youth programming and access that they find objectionable. Zeller referenced other organizations and state-level library entities that made similar decisions in 2023–24 and said the library’s subcommittee raised the issue in November.

Burger told the council the library uses training from multiple sources and that staff were “unaware of these concerns with the ALA” before the subcommittee’s work. She said library staff would continue to access professional development from a range of providers while the board’s recommendation is considered.

Zeller also emphasized literacy as a major focus for the board. Citing local test results, she said, “In 2024 in Victoria, Texas only 1 out of 3 eighth graders were reading on grade level,” and said that reading proficiency affects performance in other subjects. She described board and staff initiatives such as monthly story‑time themes for caregivers, a spring‑break reading challenge, summer programs, and planned community outreach to promote reading.

The board is composed of 11 members representing city and county appointees and community organizations, Zeller said, and the board last revised its bylaws in 2024 to align language with other advisory bodies. Burger outlined ongoing policy-review work by a policy subcommittee and described relatively recent staff turnover and a new library mission and strategic priorities.

The board’s next quarterly meeting was announced for May; Zeller encouraged council members and the public to attend. The board’s formal recommendation to cancel institutional membership in the ALA was conveyed to the council as an advisory action pending any municipal follow-up.

The council did not take a council vote on the board’s recommendation during the work session; the library director and board chair said their role is advisory and that any change to library memberships or contracts would be handled through the library administration and council process.

Additional details conveyed at the session included plans for the library’s 50th anniversary programs in the fall and ongoing policy housekeeping, such as adding donation forms and guidelines by hyperlink to the library’s donation policy.

Speakers at the presentation included Library Director Jessica Burger and Library Advisory Board Chair Sarah Zeller, who answered council questions and described the board’s priorities and recent work.

The board’s written materials and the library’s staff report are available through the city’s meeting packet for council members and will inform any subsequent council consideration or staff action on the ALA membership and literacy initiatives.