By the American Library Association 

The American Library Association (ALA) announced on March 20, 2025 that Lisa Varga will become the associate executive director of ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington D.C. Varga begins her new role on April 21, 2025.

A fierce advocate for libraries, Varga comes to ALA after spending nearly 15 years as executive director of the Virginia Library Association. At VLA, Varga increased membership from 900 to more than 5,000, increasing revenue streams as well as participating in advocacy across the state. She addressed and defeated four bills in the Virginia General Assembly in 2024 and 11 bills in the 2023 session which would have impacted intellectual freedom for students. She is a regular speaker at national and statewide conferences where she promotes the value of libraries and intellectual freedom.

“We are fortunate to have Lisa join us at a pivotal time for libraries in our nation,” Interim Executive Director Leslie Burger said. “Her background, experience and leadership will be vital as we advocate for libraries.”

Varga is replacing Alan Inouye, who assumed the role of interim associate executive director in 2022 and is retiring from ALA after 18 years in the Public Policy and Advocacy Office.

Varga has been an ALA member for 20 years where she has served on the ALA Policy Corps, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Intellectual Freedom Summit Steering Committee, ALA Leadership Institute, and Chapter Relations Committee. Varga was named 2024 Librarian of the Year by “Library Journal.”

Varga earned a master's in library science from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh.

As associate executive director, Varga will direct and manage the Public Policy and Advocacy Office. She will:

• Build relationships and opportunities to uplift and shape policy that benefits libraries and library users with federal and regional lawmakers;
• Represent libraries, library workers to legislators and stakeholders, including Congress, the Executive Branch, and the Judiciary;
• Raise the visibility of the library and information sector and its concerns for the public.

Special acknowledgment of the search committee: Leslie Burger, ALA interim executive director; Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom; Sarah Dallas, executive director of Southern Adirondack Library; Ed Garcia, library director of Cranston Public Library; Julie Walker, state librarian and vice chancellor for libraries and archives at Georgia Public Library Service; Steven Yates, assistant professor and assistant director at the School of Library and Information Studies at University of Alabama; Lorelle Hopkins, associate executive director, ALA Human Resources and Organizational Operations

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

Learn more about the Master of Information at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website. 

Read more about Varga on SC&I News: "Lisa Varga MLS’98 is Library Journal’s 2024 Librarian of the Year."

Photo: Courtesy of the American Library Association. Photo Credit: Misty Saves the Day.