Dear NELA Community, 
On behalf of NELA, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Maria McCauley,
Director of Libraries at the Cambridge Public Library (MA), on becoming President of the
American Library Association (ALA)! Having such a dedicated, visionary leader from our own
New England region at the helm of our national association is an incredible point of pride for all
of us.

Throughout her distinguished career—from leading libraries in Somerville and Cambridge to
earning her doctorate from Simmons University and serving as Public Library Association (PLA)
President—Dr. McCauley has been a steadfast advocate for equity, digital access, intellectual
freedom, and the transformative power of libraries.

Her commitment to advocacy spans every level of governance. Prior to her appointment as ALA
President, she served on ALA’s Committee on Legislation. She has represented Massachusetts
in legislative fly-ins organized by ALA to articulate key funding needs directly to Congress, while
continuously championing library support on the state level. In 2024, she brought her expertise
to the national policy spotlight, participating in an Emergency Connectivity Fund Roundtable
with the FCC and Senator Ed Markey to advocate for expanded community access.