AUSTIN: ­ Dr. Loriene Roy, a professor in the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin, will serve as the 2007-2008 President of the American Library Association (ALA) after receiving 65 percent of the vote in the Association's annual election. ALA announced the results on May 1. With a campaign theme of "Celebrating Community, Collaboration, and Culture," Roy's platform issues include supporting library and information science education through practice, including all in the circle of literacy, and workplace wellness.

"I'm honored to be elected to serve as ALA President 2007-2008," Roy said. "I look forward to working with ALA members as we continue to live and practice ALA's vision and values. Together, we will address the many critical issues facing libraries today with a strong voice and a common purpose."

Roy, an Anishinabe (Ojibwe) enrolled on the White Earth Reservation and a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, will be the first Native person to serve as ALA president. She joined UT's nationally recognized School of Information in 1987 and currently teaches graduate courses in public librarianship, reference, and library instruction/information literacy. "Libraries and librarianship are undergoing a major transformation," said Dean Andrew Dillon of the School of Information, "and I am delighted for Loriene and for the School that an educator will lead this important professional association".

ALA is the largest professional organization in librarianship and has over 66,000 members. The President serves as the association's chief elected officer. Roy will become President-Elect in July 2006, and will assume the ALA presidency in July 2007, following the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. She will serve a one-year term as President.