IU is ALA Student Chapter of the Year

2025 IU Student Chapter President Sophia Congdon spoke about her experience in relaunching the group with then Vice-President Taylor Burnette. She said, "It was easy to assemble our executive board because there were so many students who wanted to participate in a leadership role. I think everyone immediately knew that having an active ALA Student Chapter was important. The only reason we were able to do so many exciting things, like going to the national conference and having successful passive programming, was because our peers were excited about the opportunities we were creating."

To reinvigorate the group, Burnette and Congdon invited two of Indiana University Bloomington's librarians to serve as Chapter Advisors: Leanne Nay, Creative Technologies Librarian, and Mike Courtney, Outreach and Engagement Librarian.

Courtney said, "Supporting a group of motivated graduate students as they built community, organized programming, and ultimately earned national recognition reminded me why ILS education matters so deeply. Their enthusiasm pushed me to think more creatively about how we connect theory to practice and how we cultivate emerging professionals who are ready to lead."

Congdon appreciated the very specific kinds of support the librarians offered, "I absolutely think that working with career librarians in any capacity, but especially as our advisors, is a boon to our organization. They're very knowledgeable on academic and professional conferences, and it's been so helpful to be able to pick their brains on the submission and presentation processes."

Diane Dallis-Comentale is the Ruth Lilly Dean of University Libraries and a former chapter advisor to the ALA Student Chapter at IU Bloomington. "I am thrilled to see our students and librarians recognized on the national stage," she said.  "There is no doubt this chapter is worthy of recognition. We work alongside these incredible graduate students every day in our libraries and could not deliver our services to campus without their contributions. We know they will be highly competitive in the job market once they graduate, in part because of the experience they have here with us."

The ALA award announcement points to the successes of the IU student group as a model for student chapters nationwide.   "For the campus, the chapter provides a visible hub of engagement around librarianship, strengthening connections between academic units and the library. For IU Libraries, the chapter’s activities create a pipeline of students who are already invested in service, collaboration, and professional values—qualities that enrich our workplace and strengthen the broader library ecosystem," Courtney said.

He sees both local and national benefits to having an active ALA Student Chapter in Bloomington, "Student membership in ALA matters because it anchors emerging professionals in the broader conversations shaping the future of librarianship. At a time when libraries are navigating rapid technological change, shifting community needs, and evolving information landscapes, students benefit from early exposure to national networks, professional standards, and advocacy efforts. ALA membership helps them see themselves not just as students, but as contributors to a profession with shared values and collective responsibilities. Personally, advising the chapter has been a source of pride and renewal, offering a front row seat to the growth of future colleagues."

Official ALA Student Chapters are organizations formed by students at schools offering accredited programs of library and information studies.  Congratulations to the students and advisors at this year's runner-up chapter, San Jose State University.