A message from United Past-President and Board member Skip Dye
United for Libraries mourns the loss of Brenda Langstraat Bui, who passed on January 31, 2026. Brenda was first appointed to a 3-year term as Foundation at Large in 2020 and re-elected for a 3-year term in 2023. Brenda served as chair of United’s Partnership and Fundraising Committee, and was a member of the ALA Public Supporter Program Steering Committee, helping to launch the ALA Public Supporter program.
I was deeply saddened and shocked by the passing of Brenda. Brenda and I served together on the of United for Libraries Board, where she was an active and tirelessly dedicated contributor across numerous committees. She also served on the Public Supporter Program committee that I chaired—a program we launched together to create new pathways for library advocates to support the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries. From the very beginning, Brenda was generous with her time, her ideas, and her energy. She was the person who turned ‘what if’ into ‘why not’ and then into ‘let’s do it.’
Brenda was fiercely passionate about the Chicago Public Library and about the power of libraries to strengthen and transform communities. For her, fundraising wasn’t transactional—it was transformational. She was truly unique. She was the spark behind bold ideas, marketing campaigns, and innovative fundraising efforts, and the kindling that fueled enthusiasm and creativity in those around her, her staff, her friends. She could see abundance where others saw limitation. She taught me, and everyone around us, that leadership could be generous, playful, and fearless all at once.
To me, Brenda was not only a respected leader and mentor, but also a friend. Her generosity, creativity, and belief in the mission of libraries left a lasting impact on all who worked and collaborated with her. She will be deeply missed, though her legacy will continue. She taught me to bring the spark and not to forget the kindling—or the champagne.
Skip Dye
(he, him, his)
SVP, Library Sales and Digital Strategy, SVP, Sales Operations
Chair, PRH Intellectual Freedom Taskforce
Chair, ALA Public Partner Program Steering Committee
Past-President, United for Libraries
