Stephanie Pasha (Mass.) and Becky Keane (Ill.) will be publicly recognized for their contributions to libraries at ALA Annual 2026 in June
The ALA Trustee Citation, awarded by United for Libraries, recognizes public library Trustees for distinguished service to library development. Each year, the selected Trustees are recognized during the Opening General Session at the ALA Annual Conference. This year’s Conference will take place in Chicago, Ill., and the 2026 ALA Trustee Citation recipients are Stephanie Pasha of Worcester Public Library and Becky Keane of the Niles-Maine District Library.
Stephanie Pasha
Worcester (Mass.) Public Library Board of Trustees
United for Libraries is pleased to award a 2026 ALA Trustee Citation to Stephanie Pasha, Chair of the Worcester Public Library Board of Trustees in Worcester, Mass. Since joining the Board of Directors in 2016, Stephanie has demonstrated exceptional leadership, advocacy, and commitment to strengthening library services for the Worcester community.
Stephanie played a key role in modernizing the library’s leadership structure by advocating to transition the top position from Head Librarian to Executive Director, ensuring the role reflected broader managerial, civic, and strategic responsibilities. She has also been a strong advocate for equity and inclusion initiatives, helping lead the creation of a Social Services Specialist position to better connect patrons with community resources and reduce barriers to access.
During the Worcester Public Library’s $13.1 million renovation project, Stephanie helped guide fundraising and advocacy efforts that supported the transformation of the Main Library into a vibrant and welcoming civic space. She also championed the library’s widely recognized “March Meowness” fee-forgiveness campaign, which generated international media attention and contributed to measurable increases in library engagement, circulation, and new library card registrations.
In addition to her work at the local level, Stephanie has represented Worcester Public Library in city, state, and federal legislative advocacy efforts, helping advance conversations around sustainable library funding and equitable access to services.
As her nominating colleagues wrote: “Stephanie’s leadership, vision, and dedication embody the highest ideals of public library trusteeship and demonstrate the profound impact engaged trustees can have on their communities.”
Congratulations.
Becky Keane
Niles-Maine District (Ill.) Library Board of Trustees
United for Libraries is pleased to award a 2026 ALA Trustee Citation to Becky Keane, Board President of the Niles-Maine District Library in Niles, Ill. This is not the first time that Becky has been recognized by her colleagues; in 2023, she was awarded the ILA Trustee of the Year award for notable leadership qualities and in 2024, she was recognized as a mover and shaker by Library Journal.
Even before she joined the Board and in reaction to politically conservative trustees who instituted devastating policies, Becky was a community leader. Through grassroots advocacy, she helped mobilize community members, advocated for the institution’s future, and reinforced the library’s role as a vital civic resource.
After being elected president, Becky focused on restoring stability, encouraging collaboration among trustees, and helping refocus the Board on its governance responsibilities. Committed to professional development for both staff and trustees, Becky established all-staff training days and ensured that every Board member attended the 2025 Illinois Library Association Annual Conference.
On a national level, Becky presented at a past ALA Conference addressing how libraries respond to requests to remove materials from circulation, sharing insights about policy development, governance responsibilities, and the protection of intellectual freedom.
As her nominating colleagues wrote: “Becky’s leadership reflects the highest ideals of public library trusteeship and the values the ALA Trustee Citation was created to recognize.”
Congratulations.
