American Library Association Executive Director named to TIME 100 List

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BY TIA CAROL JONES

Hall had no idea that she was being considered for the list. She called it a humbling experience to be named on the list, which features some very notable and well-known people. People on the TIME 100 List are chosen by TIME editors. She believes she was chosen because libraries are on the front lines of conversations about Democracy, the right to read and free expression.

For Hall, the journey to librarian started while she was working at a homeless shelter in Santa Monica, Calif. It led her to do work involving adult literacy, and sparked her curiosity about the work of librarians. She has been the Executive Director of the American Library Association, which promotes library education and libraries, since 2020.

“Intellectual freedom is at the heart of librarianship, and it is part of our social responsibility to ensure that people in our communities have an opportunity to see themselves and their history in the books and materials they use and request. I think it’s really not so much about me, but an endorsement in our belief in free speech and our belief in protecting and preserving the right to read,” Hall said.

Hall was recognized by scaleLIT, which named her the 2023 recipient of the Literacy Leader Award. It is a special recognition for her because that work in literacy led to her becoming a librarian. She believes that one important conversation is the one about adult literacy and poverty. She also has been named 2023 Beacon Award recipient by Illinois Humanities. With that recognition, it reflects the work she did in humanities and the arts, something she has done throughout her career.

Hall is grateful for the community in Chicago. Although she is not from the city, she has received support from the community. She recalled when she had the Rootwork Gallery and the community kept it buoyant. “Chicago is one of those places where the community comes together to support each other’s dreams and ambitions,” she said. “Whenever I’ve done anything in this city, no matter what it is, I’ve found a community in support of that.”

Hall has seen herself on the TIME website. When it was announced, she received congratulations from people. “This is about librarians who are on the frontlines every day, who are facing threats to their jobs, threats to their person, we’ve had bomb threats, we’ve had threats against individual librarians, people fighting for intellectual freedom, and I realize the severity of that, because I consider myself to be someone who is really determined,” she said.

Hall herself has received emails from those who did not like her talking about intellectual freedom and the right to read. She is reminded that everyday those librarians stand up for those principles, they are making themselves vulnerable and visible. It doesn’t dampen her spirit, and it makes her commend her colleagues and people who advocate for libraries.

The physical copy of TIME is available on newsstands. To view it online, visit https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2023/.