The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is excited to introduce the candidates running for Treasurer in the upcoming ALA elections. Below, you’ll find their responses to key questions about their vision, experience, and plans for IFRT. This is your opportunity to learn more about the individuals who seek to lead IFRT in advancing intellectual freedom.

Election Information

ALA members will receive their election ballots via email beginning on March 10, 2025. Be sure to cast your vote and help shape the future of IFRT!

Candidate Biographies

Jim Neal: Jim Neal is University Librarian Emeritus at Columbia University, where he served as Vice President for Information Services during 2001-14, responsible for university academic technologies and a system of 22 libraries. Previously, he was the Dean of University Libraries at Indiana and Johns Hopkins, and he held administrative positions in the libraries at Penn State, Notre Dame, and CUNY. He has been an active member of ALA for more than 50 years, serving on numerous committees and task forces, in division and round table leadership assignments, on the ALA Council and Executive Board, on the Endowment Trustees, as ALA Treasurer and President. He has held leadership roles in many national and international organizations, including OCLC, ARL, RLG, NISO, IFLA, FTRF, and IMLS. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and a published author and consultant with focuses in the areas of scholarly communication, intellectual property, digital libraries and preservation, library cooperation, and leadership. He has received numerous awards, including ALA’s Atkinson, Lippincott, Medal of Excellence, Patterson, Humphrey, and Honorary Membership awards. 

Kristin Pekoll: Kristin Pekoll is a former YA librarian from Wisconsin. For 8 years, she provided professional and emotional support to library workers experiencing bans and challenges as the assistant director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. She is the author of Beyond Banned Books: Defending Intellectual Freedom throughout Your Library, published by ALA Editions in 2019. Currently, she works with the Illinois Library Association as their Conference and Continuing Education Manager. 

In her spare time, Kristin is actively involved in her kids’ schools and loves jigsaw puzzles and bonfires with neighbors.

Why do you want to serve in this position, and what unique skills or perspectives do you bring to the role?

Jim Neal: I want to serve as treasurer of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table because I can bring important experience, expertise, and insights to the work of the organization. I have been working on intellectual freedom matters since the late 1980s. Over these 35 years, this has included access to government information, protection of student circulation records, fighting against the Computer Decency Act, the library community response to the USA PATRIOT Act, fighting against age labels on books and records and video games, rampant censorship of content in library collections, and accelerating book bans. I am a long standing member and officer of the Freedom to Read Foundation and have participated in its work on litigation and emerging intellectual freedom issues. I am experienced and knowledgeable about ALA finances, fundraising, and investments. I have served on ALA’s Budget Advisory and Review Committee, the Finance and Audit Committee, the Endowment Trustees, as Treasurer of ALA, as Treasurer of FTRF, and IFRT. I understand the financial relationship of round tables with the Association.

Kristin Pekoll: I have a lot of experience reading ALA finance reports, and I understand how the money is spent and how member dues are underutilized. 

How do you see IFRT’s role in defending against book bans and censorship efforts across the country?

Jim Neal: The Intellectual Freedom Round Table is part of a complex of organizations in ALA that focus on intellectual freedom. The Intellectual Freedom Committee focuses on policy matters and advises the Council and Executive Board of ALA. The Freedom to Read Foundation is a membership organization that focuses on litigation and increasing education programs. There are various special organizations that have been launched to fight against censorship and book bans. The Committee on Legislation increasingly monitors federal legislation and debates on First Amendment topics and advises on ALA action. So, where does this leave IFRT? IFRT plays a distinctive role against book bans and censorship, embracing a large and diverse national membership of library workers and other information professionals. IFRT keeps its membership aware of developing threats, educates them about the complexities of First Amendment challenges, enables participation in the work of intellectual freedom, and points the way to action with impact and influence. 

Kristin Pekoll: IFRT’s members and awards raise awareness of the issues of censorship in a grassroots manner. 

Are there any new initiatives or projects you would like to introduce within IFRT?

Jim Neal: If elected, I would welcome discussions and advancement of the following:

• closer cooperation and collaboration among the various ALA units working on intellectual freedom, including divisions and other round tables 
• expanded communication and collaboration with the intellectual freedom units of state library associations 
• consideration of a formal certificate program for individuals who want a deeper understanding of intellectual freedom and libraries that want to expand staff knowledge and action on intellectual freedom
• creation of an emerging issues committee that would report on new intellectual freedom developments to membership

Kristin Pekoll: No.

---

Make Your Voice Heard!

Your participation in this election is vital to ensuring that IFRT continues to be a strong advocate for intellectual freedom. Mark your calendars for March 10, 2025, and be on the lookout for your ALA election ballot. Thank you for being an engaged member of IFRT!

Candidates for Director-at-Large will be featured tomorrow, and you can read responses from our Chair-Elect candidates here.