Lisa Thorp - St. Louis Public Library

Lisa Thorp (she/her) is the Social Sciences librarian at St. Louis Public Library, overseeing one of the adult nonfiction rooms (call numbers 001-399) at SLPL’s Central Library, where she also runs the Grants & Foundation Center (the Library’s nonprofit resource center). Lisa earned her Library degree from the University of Missouri in 2014, and has been with SLPL since 2016. Lisa received her B.A. in French and Philosophy and a law degree (both in the last century)and practiced law for eighteen years before transitioning to library work; conveniently Lisa has both the philosophy (100s) & law (340s) books in “her” room at Central.

One of Lisa’s passions is democracy and voter engagement. Lisa oversees voter registration for all SLPL locations, and in 2022 was co-recipient of an ALA Civic Imagination Station grant, along with St. Louis artist and activist, Joan Lipkin. After working with the 11 other cohorts around the country and each other, Lisa and Joan conceived of Voters of St. Louis, which they continue to develop with the hope of increasing voter registration and turnout, as well as more informed and enthusiastic (perhaps even joyful?) participants in the democratic process. 

Candidate statement: I was surprised and honored to be invited to throw my hat into the ring for Member-at-Large on the MLA Board. To be perfectly candid I’ve been an imperfect MLA member, but have used this as an opportunity to remedy that and am once again in good standing. As is often the case with later in life “converts” (in my case, to the profession of librarian), I am a rather fierce advocate for all things library, especially the important role that public libraries play in a community and the free access of information. I admire the work that the MLA has done advocating for and educating folks about intellectual freedom and I would welcome the opportunity to be a part of the conversation in its work on that front and generally (as stated in the MLA mission) “to promote library service, the profession of librarianship, and cooperation among all types of libraries and organizations concerned with library service in the State of Missouri.”

Dr. Denice Atkins, Associate Director of the School of Information Science & Learning Technologies, University of Missouri

Dr. Denice Adkins is professor and associate director of the School of Information Science & Learning Technologies, University of Missouri and co-editor of the Journal of Education for Library & Information Science. Her research interests include public libraries, services to the Latinx community and other underserved populations, reader advisory research, and youth services. Her previous elected positions include President and Treasurer for REFORMA (The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking) and councilor-at-large for the American Library Association.

Candidate statement: I am running because I want to make a positive difference to Missouri’s library community and help to celebrate the hard work that MLA members put into this organization every day. I have seen many of my former students go on to MLA leadership and use their skills and gifts in support of Missouri’s libraries and library staff. I want to do my part to continue MLA’s legacy of being a safe and supportive space for our library staff to develop the skills and strengths needed to succeed in our unique context.

Cindy Thompson - University of Missouri-Kansas City

Cindy Thompson, MA, PhD, is the Dean of Libraries at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s University Libraries. She began at UMKC in 2006 as the Interlibrary Loan Librarian and took on increasing responsibilities until she attained her current position. At the UMKC Libraries Cindy has been engaged in a number of significant initiatives, including more than ten years of phased renovation, collaboration across campuses and communities, and active work with the Missouri Library Association. In addition to serving on or working with nearly every committee and CI in MLA, she has served as President, Treasurer, and Member-at-Large for the MLA board, served as chair PEER CI and raised significant funds for the Bohley Scholarship, and currently chairs the Access & Innovation Fund Committee and co-chairs the You Belong Committee. Her research interests lie with organizational structure, strategic change management, and building strong cultures within organizations.

Candidate statement: The Missouri Library Association is an organization with significant history, and I am honored to be in the running to represent this vibrant group as our ALA Councilor. I have been an MLA member for my entire career, and have found participation to be rich and fulfilling. In my variety of roles with MLA, I have been thrilled to see the exciting direction we are taking as an organization – one that is focused on serving its community through ways that are meaningful and inclusive. As ALA Councilor, I would not only be poised to advocate for issues of importance in our state and share the great work we are doing in MLA, but can also tap the wealth of knowledge available to us through the council to help continue this trajectory. My hope is that the incredible work at MLA around intellectual freedom, advocacy, and inclusion will be even more successful with increased partnerships with other chapters and ALA, which I will work to accomplish as ALA Councilor.

Kaite Mediatore Stover - Kansas City Public Library

Kaite Mediatore Stover is the Director of Readers' Services for The Kansas City Public Library. She holds Masters degrees in Library Science and English Literature from Emporia State University. Stover is the co-editor of The Readers' Advisory Handbook (ALA Editions 2010). She has contributed chapters to Research-Based Readers' Advisory (ALA Editions 2008) and Integrated Advisory Service (Libraries Unlimited 2010). Stover wrote the "He Reads, She Reads" column for Booklist with David Wright from 2004-2016 and "Under the Radar" for Public Libraries from 2012-2017. Stover has published articles in Reference & User Services Quarterly, Library Journal, Wilson Library Bulletin, Young Adult Library Services, The Emporia Gazette, The Kansas City Kansan, Present Magazine, INK, and The Kansas City Star. Stover served on the Penguin Random House Library Advisory Board and is a founding member and former Steering Committee member for LibraryReads. She is the recipient of the 2018 Margaret E. Monroe Award, 2012 Allie Beth Martin Award, and was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker in 2003. Stover speaks regularly at international, national, regional, and state conferences on readers, reading, trends in publishing and reading, and training for library staff with an emphasis on readers' advisory and customer service. She has served ALA on the following committees/capacities: Chair, Booklist Advisory Council; ALEX Awards, Carnegie Medal Award, Dartmouth Award, Louis B. Shores Award, Sophie Brody Medal Award, and ALA Councilor-at-Large from 2021-2023.

Candidate statement: As ALA CaL from 2021 to 2023, I was part of the governing body that worked on the reimagining and retooling of ALA Council. I’m proud of the new structures coming into place to allow for more diversity in Council. This was not easy work. I went into ALA willing to listen to all viewpoints and vote for resolutions, policies, and changes that would benefit as many ALA members as possible.  

Steven V. Potter - Missouri Evergreen

Like many, Steven Potter has navigated the challenging, unexpected, and at times traumatic landscape of the past several years. Yet, amidst these trials Missouri libraries and the dedicated individuals within them have proven their indispensable value to individuals, communities, and the nation's health. 

Steven has a long history of working for over 35 years in Missouri's libraries and the library community. He is currently the Principal at Potter Training and Consulting; he also serves as the Executive Director for the Missouri Evergreen Consortium. He works closely with the seventy-seven libraries in the consortium and hears their concerns regularly. He was a member of the administrative team at Mid-Continent Public Library for twenty-seven years, including twelve years as the Library Director. Before working in library administration, he worked in technical services, I.T., the MCPL warehouse, and various other jobs at Mid-Continent Public Library. If there is a library task you might identify, Steven has carried it out at some point.

Advocacy is not just a professional duty for Steven, it is a personal commitment that has shaped his life. As an instructor at the University of Missouri and a member of the SISLT Advisory Council, he has actively contributed to the development of the library community. His longstanding memberships in MLA, ALA, and PLA reflects his continuous engagement in advocating for Missouri Libraries. He has participated in numerous Library Advocacy Days and National Library Legislative Days, and his membership in the MLA Legislative Committee for decades has provided him with a wealth of experience in advocating for libraries.

Candidate statement: If elected as the ALA Chapter Councilor from Missouri, I will bring my decades of experience and my current work with libraries of all sizes. I will not only represent you, but I will also bring my personal and professional experiences and sensibilities to the job. As a moderate and a pragmatist, I will ensure that ALA's approach is inclusive and beneficial to all, including rural or exurban Missouri libraries. However, I am a staunch believer in intellectual freedom, freedom of inquiry, and freedom to read. These values are the backbone of our library community, and I will never compromise on them. I deeply value all efforts to support literacy, and I am committed to fostering a culture of learning and exploration in our libraries.

I appreciate your consideration and thank you for all you do for your community and for Missouri's libraries.