Lisa Varga has been named the next associate executive director of the American Library Association’s Public Policy and Advocacy office in Washington, D.C., effective April 21. She succeeds Alan Inouye, who has served in the role since 2022 and is retiring from ALA after 18 years in the policy office.
The ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy office is tasked with promoting the freedom of information, notably through participating in debates around information technology policies and ensuring library access to electronic resources. In her new role, Varga will represent libraries and library workers to legislators and others involved in the U.S. Congress, executive branch, and judiciary.
Varga comes to the ALA from the Virginia Library Association, where she served as executive director for the past 15 years. Under her leadership, per the ALA, the VLA grew from 900 to more than 5,000 members, and successfully fought for intellectual freedom in the state general assembly.
Leslie Burger, interim executive director of the ALA, wrote in an announcement that the ALA is “fortunate to have Lisa join us at a pivotal time for libraries in our nation. Her background, experience, and leadership will be vital as we advocate for libraries.”
