Wanda Kay Brown is an American librarian, who was the president of the American Library Association for the 2019–2020 term. She is the director of the C. G. O'Kelly Library at Winston-Salem State University and a leader in state and national library associations. She is the first American Library Association president who is a library director at one of the nation's historically black colleges and universities."Brown makes history as American Library Association president", WSSU News & Information (June 18, 2019). She is twice president of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association in 2006–2008 and 2024–2026.
Background and education Brown, a native North Carolinian, received a Bachelor of Arts in English at Winston-Salem State University in May 1977 and a master's degree in Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1983. Her personal story as a chosen child and an example of a rise from adversity aired on WXII-12-Winston-Salem.Place to Call Home: Triad woman forced to hide as child because she was product of interracial relationship WXII-12, Aug 15, 2019
Career Brown began working at Wake Forest University in 1977 as a library technician, eventually working her way up to associate director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Library in 2007. Since 2016, she has served as Director of Library Services for the C. G. O'Kelly Library at Winston-Salem State University.
Brown has been a member of the American Library Association for more than 30 years. She has held multiple positions within the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), including time spent as treasurer (1992–1996, 2016–2018), executive board member (2001–2003, 2014–2016), and president (2006–2008). From 2011 to 2013 she was the president of the North Carolina Library Association, with which she has also held the positions of treasurer (1991–1998) and chair of the finance committee (2005–2009).
American Library Association Presidency Campaign In early 2018, Brown received endorsement from Black Caucus of the American Library Association, supported by a petition signed by 34 members in support of her running. Brown was elected president of the American Library Association for 2019–2020. Brown received 6,066 votes; her opponent, Peter Hepburn, head librarian at the College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, CA, received 4,066 Votes. The 11,037 ballots cast, representing approximately 22.1 percent of ALA membership, were up from the previous year's total of 9,748. Brown is the first librarian from a historically black college or university to serve as ALA president.
Presidential statements and publications
As President of the American Library Association Brown wrote a column for its magazine, American Libraries, and addressed the role of librarians promoting Association values,Brown, Wanda Kay. 2019. "Find Your Place within ALA: Together Let's Promote the Value of Libraries and the Association." American Libraries 50 (7/8): 3. the redesign of libraries.Brown, Wanda Kay. 2019. "Inclusive by Design: Reevaluating Physical and Virtual Spaces to Address Inequity". American Libraries 50 (9/10): 4. and how libraries can help immigrants and refugees thrive with inclusive programs and services.Brown, Wanda Kay. 2019. "Welcoming New Americans", American Libraries, November 1, 2019.
In 2020, Brown wrote "Forward Together: Charting a Path to a More Vibrant and Effective Organization", and presented recommendations to enable sustainable, long-term change for the American Library Association.Brown, Wanda Kay. 2020. "Forward Together: Charting a Path to a More Vibrant and Effective Organization", American Libraries, January/February, 2020. On February 14, 2020, Brown and the Executive Board issued a statement regarding the Association's financial shortfall in the operating budget.Brown, Wanda Kay, and ALA Executive Board. "ALA Responds to Financial Shortfall", American Libraries February 14, 2020.
On January 15, 2020, Brown announced the appointment of Tracie D. Hall as Executive Director of the American Library Association."ALA Appoints Tracie D. Hall As Executive Director", American Libraries, January 15, 2020.
The role of librarians' intersection with the 2020 census was the topic of President Brown's March/April American Libraries column. She noted, "It's important to view this civic duty through the lens of social justice. Hard-to-count groups include recent immigrants, people of color, young children, and renters."Brown, Wanda Kay. 2020. "Don't Be Counted Out: Libraries, ALA Mobilize for the 2020 Census", American Libraries, March/April, 2020: 4.
Libraries' response to the COVID-19 pandemic was the topic of Wanda Kay Brown's presidential column in May, 2020, "Libraries Adapt amid Crisis: Finding inspiration from library workers across the country." She highlighted homework help at the Charleston County Public Library in South Carolina, the My Librarian 30-minute appointments to assist patrons with navigating small business loans at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County in Ohio, and the housing of homeless people at the Spokane Public Library in Washington. Brown concluded, "May these challenging and uncertain times find us working even closer together so that our libraries, our communities, our association, and our families will all thrive. "Brown, Wanda Kay. 2020. "Libraries Adapt amid Crisis: Finding inspiration from library workers across the country", American Libraries 51:4.
In her final American Libraries essay as American Library Association president in June, 2020 President Brown reviewed her 2019-2020 year as one of change, loss, and hope.Brown, Wanda Kay. 2020. "A Year of Change, Loss, Hope." American Libraries June 51:4.
On June 1, 2020 Wanda Kay Brown announced the endorsement the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, "Statement Condemning Increased Violence and Racism Towards Black Americans and People of Color"Black Caucus of the American Library Association. "Statement Condemning Increased Violence and Racism Towards Black Americans and People of Color", May 28, 2020. by the American Library Association Executive Board.
#eBooksForAll Under Brown's leadership the American Library Association launched the campaign #eBooksForAll denouncing Macmillan Publishers' planned embargo on eBook sales to libraries. The background on Macmillan's decision has been explained by Jessamyn West in a CNN opinion essay, "Libraries are fighting to preserve your right to borrow e-books".West, Jessamyn, "Libraries are fighting to preserve your right to borrow e-books", CNN Opinion August 2, 2019.
2020 Annual Conference and COVID-19
Wanda Kay Brown was the first president in 75 years under whom the live Annual Conference, scheduled for Chicago in June 2020, was cancelled. The reason was the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). "ALA's priority is the health and safety of the library community, including our members, staff, supporters, vendors and volunteers," Brown stated in a press release. "As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, it's become clear that in the face of an unprecedented situation, we need to make tough choices."American Library Association cancels 2020 Annual Conference due to COVID-19", American Library Association, March 24, 2020." The 2020 conference was reconfigured as a virtual event, Community Through Connection, on June 24–25, 2020.American Library Association. Virtual Conference Community Through Connection The opening session featured Misty Copeland and closing session featured Natalie Portman.
In an interview with Information Today Brown's presidency was characterized as "bound to be remembered as one of the most tumultuous in the 144-year history of ALA."Shumaker, Dave. 2020. "People-Centered: An Interview With Wanda Kay Brown". Information Today 37 (7): 10–12.
Black Caucus of the American Library Association
Wanda Kay Brown was elected president of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) for 2024–2026. She had previously served as treasurer (1992–1996, 2016–2018), executive board member (2001–2003, 2014–2016), and president (2006–2008).Black Caucus of the American Library Association.
Selected publications
"Find Your Place within ALA: Together Let’s Promote the Value of Libraries and the Association".Brown, Wanda Kay. 2019. "Find Your Place within ALA: Together Let's Promote the Value of Libraries and the Association". American Libraries 50 (7/8): 3. "Inclusive by Design: Reevaluating Physical and Virtual Spaces to Address Inequity". "Welcoming New Americans: Helping Immigrants and Refugees Thrive with Inclusive Programs and Services".Brown, Wanda Kay. 2019. "Welcoming New Americans: Helping Immigrants and Refugees Thrive with Inclusive Programs and Services". American Libraries 50 (11/12): 4. "Forward Together: Charting a Path to a More Vibrant and Effective Organization".Brown, Wanda Kay. 2020. "Forward Together: Charting a Path to a More Vibrant and Effective Organization". American Libraries 51 (1/2): 4. "Don't Be Counted Out: Libraries, ALA Mobilize for the 2020 Census".Brown, Wanda Kay. 2020. "Don’t Be Counted Out: Libraries, ALA Mobilize for the 2020 Census". American Libraries 51 (3/4): 4. "Libraries Adapt amid Crisis: Finding Inspiration in Library Workers across the Country".Brown, Wanda Kay. 2020. "Libraries Adapt amid Crisis: Finding Inspiration in Library Workers across the Country". American Libraries 51 (5): 4. "A Year of Change, Loss, Hope: Bidding Many Farewells as I Close My Presidential Term".Brown, Wanda Kay. 2020. "A Year of Change, Loss, Hope: Bidding Many Farewells as I Close My Presidential Term". American Libraries 51 (6): 4. Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin. American Library Association, ALAIR.
Awards 2015. BCALA DEMCO/ALA Black Caucus Award for Excellence 2013. University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Education Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award. 2013. BCALA Leadership Award 2012. BCALA Distinguished Service Award. 2009. University of North Carolina at Greensboro. UNCG Kovacs Award for Outstanding Alumni Achievement
References