Chicago, IL -- March 26, 2026. The American Library Association is set to confer an honorary lifetime membership upon Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen. Recommended by the ALA Executive Board and elected by the ALA Council, honorary membership is the highest honor given by the Association and conferred upon a living person whose outstanding contributions have made a lasting impact on librarianship, libraries, and the communities they serve.
Newlen's career at the Library of Congress is marked by his leadership, dedication to public service, and commitment to equity and access. Newlen has dedicated more than 40 years of service to the Library of Congress starting as a clerk in the Congressional Research Service and rising through the ranks, culminating in appointments as Deputy Librarian of Congress and most recently as Acting Librarian of Congress.
"Robert has spent more than four decades living the values of our profession—service, stewardship, and a firm belief that libraries open doors for everyone," said ALA President Sam Helmick. "His leadership at the Library of Congress and his deep commitment to equity and access have strengthened our nation's library community and expanded opportunities for generations of library workers and readers. We are proud to recognize his extraordinary contributions with ALA's highest honor."
Throughout his time as an active ALA member, Newlen has served as a member of the ALA Executive Board (1996-2001), two terms as an Endowment Trustee (2002-2008, 2013-2020) including as Chair, and multiple terms on the ALA Council.
Newlen is a founding member of the Philanthropic Advisory Group (PAG), which is charged to advance the philanthropic and fundraising activities of ALA and to increase the level of external funding that supports the work of the Association. He played a key role in facilitating the largest single donation in ALA history, a $25 million bequest designated for scholarship for aspiring librarians.
In 2016, Newlen received the ALA Medal of Excellence, which recognizes outstanding creative leadership, in the areas of library management, library training, cataloging and classification, as well as the tools and techniques associated with librarianship. In 2021, he was honored with the Lippincott Award for distinguished service to the profession of librarianship.
ALA is slated to officially confer the honorary membership upon Newlen this June during the ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago.
About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America's libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.