Sam Helmick

Sam Helmick
President-elect of the American Library Association
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 2025
Preceded byCindy Hohl

Sam Helmick is the 2025–2026 president of the American Library Association.[1] Sam Helmick is community and access services coordinator at Iowa City Public Library.

Education and career

Sam Helmick earned the B.S. from Iowa Wesleyan University in Human Services and was awarded the Master of Science in library and information science from the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences in 2012.[2]

Sam Helmick has served on the American Library Association Executive Board.[3]

Helmick was president of the Iowa Library Association and chair of the Iowa Governor's Commission on Libraries.[4] As president of the Iowa Library Association Helmick wrote to newspapers in Iowa to support a library levy.[5]

Helmick has been active in speaking against Iowa legislation limiting library funding,[6] book bans and challenges.[7] Publishers' Weekly highlighted Helmick's work on the frontlines of the battle of the Freedom to Read in 2024. [8]

References

  1. ^ Sam Helmick Selected as ALA President-Elect American Libraries (July 25, 2024).
  2. ^ Helmick chosen 2024-2025 ALA president-elect.University of Illinois School of Information Sciences.July 26, 2024.
  3. ^ Sam for Libraries
  4. ^ Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Sam Helmick American Libraries March 1, 2024.
  5. ^ Helmick, Sam. Letters to the editor: Use your voice to support library funding. Storm Lake Times Pilot.October 20, 2023.
  6. ^ Clayworth, Jason. Iowa's war on books now targeting public libraries, group warns Axios Des Moines. Feb 8, 2024
  7. ^ Phelps, Becky.Iowa libraries see increase in attempts to challenge and ban books ABC-KCRG. Mar. 14, 2024
  8. ^ Maher, John. Censorship Is a Hammer Looking for a Nail: PW Talks with Sam Helmick Publishers' Weekly. Apr 12, 2024