Wow! Today ALA’s Nominating Committee announced the slate of candidates for the spring 2007 election for Council, treasurer, and vice-president/president-elect. And I am a candidate for vice-president/president-elect! This is, of course, a great honor. I am grateful to the Nominating Committee for its expression of confidence in me.

I accepted the nomination because I believe that I can make a contribution to ALA as its president. Over the years I have invested a lot of my time in ALA work because I truly believe that this organization benefits its members, the library world, and society at large. It is gratifying to be part of something much larger than oneself, something that is a positive force in the world. ALA has given me much and I have tried to repay ALA through the various assignments and offices I have held. I never imagined that I might have the opportunity to repay ALA by serving as its president. I hope that you and other ALA members will give me your vote and that opportunity. I promise to serve you well. If elected, I will serve as vice-president in 2007-08 and president in 2008-09.

To learn more about my candidacy and me the candidate, see rettigforala.org. (ALA keeps candidates’ names secret until after the Nominating Committee reports to the Executive Board. That occurred this morning. After I was asked to accept the nomination earlier this month I was permitted to tell only my wife and my boss–not even my kids. That meant I was left to my own devices to create the Web site. I believe that I have far, far more to offer ALA than I have to offer as a Web site designer! If anyone adept at such things would like to volunteer to redesign my Web site, please get in touch!)

Please let me hear from you; please share your ideas!