Rhode Island Librarians Named 2024 ALA Emerging Leaders

Press Release: Cranston Public Library’s Elena Rios Named a 2024 Emerging Leader by the American Library Association 

(CRANSTON, RI) – The Cranston Public Library is proud to announce that The American Library Association (ALA) has selected Youth Services librarian Elena Rios to participate in its 2024 class of Emerging Leaders (EL). The EL program began in 2007 and was the presidential initiative of then ALA President Leslie Burger. It is designed to enable library staff and information workers to participate in project planning work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity early in their careers. Rios is the fourth CPL staff member named an Emerging Leader.

Rios is passionate about helping children develop their literacy skills and explore their interests. She cares about accessibility and feels that it is important for kids to see reflections of themselves in the books they read and the professionals they see working in the library. Rios consciously plans and implements library programs that support equity, diversity, and inclusion. She began working at Cranston Public Library in 2017 while she was a student at Cranston East High School, and has been a full-time Youth Services librarian at the Central Library since 2022. Rios earned her Bachelor's in Information Technology and Master’s in Library Science from Simmons College.

The Emerging Leaders program will kick off with an in-person, day-long session during the ALA LibLearnX24 event. Participants will continue in an online learning and networking environment for six months. The EL program culminates with a poster session where the Emerging Leaders will highlight the results of their project planning work during the ALA 2024 Annual Conference in San Diego this June.

The EL cohort consists of 50 individuals from across the U.S. and Canada. 

For information on the ALA Emerging Leaders program, visit www.ala.org/educationcareers/leadership/emergingleaders [ala.org].

Congratulations to both librarians for their recognition.