The 2025 ALA Annual Conference was an overwhelming success and RUSA’s programming did not disappoint. Below are a few highlights:
Friday afternoon Emerging Leaders Class of 2025 Team J presented their poster on “Reference and User Services (RUSA) Email Communication Plan”. Team J members Kate Aultman, Margaret Breen, Maggie George and Matthew Goldberg chatted and shared their research on ways to increase RUSA section membership with fellow AC25 attendees. Read a digital version of their report at http://tinyurl.com/2amy42u2 Thank you Team J!
Pictured: Maggie George, Matthew Goldberg, Margaret Breen and Kate Aultman
Early Sunday Morning RUSA presented “Literary Luminaries: Celebrating the Best Reading of the Year” with six authors from some of the year’s best of lists. Attendees were able to hear the authors discuss their works and the craft of writing, chat, and take pictures all while receiving signed copies of the authors’ latest works. The 2025 Literary Luminaries was the first year an author from the “Essential Cookbooks: The CODES List” spoke and distributed signed copies of their cookbook. Thank you Ingram Content Services for your sponsorship!
Later on Sunday during the RUSA President’s Program “The Future of Library Services: Innovating with AI, User Experience, and Service Design”, attendees filled the room to gain valuable insights and practical strategies for adapting library services to meet the demands of today’s information environment.
Conference Attendees ended Sunday with RUSA along with GameRT and NMRT at the ever-popular “Trivia Championship” where teams battled it out for the title of “Reference Champions of America”. Congratulations to the winning team.
On Monday, members of RUSA’s outgoing and incoming Leadership attended the ALA Inaugural Celebration honoring incoming ALA President and Division and Roundtable Presidents.
Pictured: Bill Ladewski, RUSA Executive Director, Sara Hess, 2024-2025 RUSA Secretary, Ninah Moore RUSA Program Officer-CE, Ilana Stonebraker, 2024-2025 RUSA President, Dr. Shannon Jones, 2025-2026 RUSA President, Taina Evans, 2025-2026 RUSA Secretary
The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Learn more at www.rusaupdate.org.