Dean Zhang named one of seven American Library Association Endowment Trustees

Published: September 09, 2021

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The American Library Association, or ALA, recently announced that Shali Zhang, Dean of Libraries at Auburn University Libraries, has been selected as ALA’s newest Endowment Trustee by the ALA executive board. Zhang’s selection is based on her experience in the management and oversight of investment funds in a business setting.

Zhang has been a life member of ALA, the largest library association in the world. She is currently serving on ALA President Patty Wong’s Advisory Committee and on the Committee of Accreditation. In the past, she served on the ALA Steering Committee on Organizational Effectiveness (2018 -2020), Chaired the ALA Committee on Organization, ALA/APA Certification Program Committee, International Relations Committee, International Relations Round Table, or IRRT, and was an ALA Councilor-at-Large. She has been active in the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, or IFLA, and served on IFLA’s Standing Committee of Acquisitions and Collection Development and most recently chaired IFLA Journal Editorial Committee. Shali also led the fundraising efforts with IRRT for its first endowment in 2016, Mission Enhancement Fund, to support ALA members’ international endeavors.

Zhang’s three-year term as an Endowment Trustee will start immediately. The seven Endowment Trustees are responsible for the management of the ALA Endowment Fund, within the established policies, procedures and guidelines according to the ALA Endowment Trustees Investment Policy.

The full text of the ALA release may be found here.