2026 Executive Committee Election Results

Thank you to all who participated in the 2026 election. The following candidates will assume office on October 3, 2025.

 Zach Elder - President Elect

Zach Elder hopes to use his wide range of experience across academic and public libraries to advance library values and guide our organization through uncertain times. 
 
His love for libraries dates back to his childhood in Ohio. He shares, "It is thanks to my local librarians not strictly enforcing the unattended child policy that has helped make me the person I am today."

His first work in libraries came as a student assistant within The Ohio State University Libraries. After graduation and two years in the software profession, he started my career at Duke University’s Rare Book and Manuscripts while attending North Carolina Central University’s School of Library and Information Science. 

Following graduation, Elder served in multiple positions for George Washington University Libraries. There, he advocated for Open Educational Resources and textbooks, and volunteered for the DC Library Association helping to fundraise for scholarships.

After years in academic libraries, he felt called to public service in Virginia in 2017. After several years serving with colleagues at Newport News Public Library and Chesapeake Public Library, he is now in his third year serving as the Director of Massanutten Regional Library (MRL) in Harrisonburg. He loves working together with the MRL team as well as being ardent about their libraries being welcoming to everyone in our community, eliminating barriers wherever possible. 

Throughout his time in Virginia, Elder has enjoyed his involvement in VLA, where he has served on the Conference Committee in the past as a volunteer chair, and as 2nd Vice President from 2022-2024. He also serves as current treasurer of the Virginia Public Library Directors’ Association; coincidentally, he also love incorporating Financial Literacy concepts into library programming.

Margaret Howard - 2nd VP

Margaret Howard is the branch manager at Chesterfield Public Library, where she has worked for 14 years. Her favorite part of being a manager is working with and mentoring staff members. She tries to walk in the footsteps of the leaders who have supported and inspired her throughout the years. She hopes to make a small difference in the lives of the people she works with and the community she serves.

In 2013, she was named an ALA Emerging Leader and has served on several ALA committees over the past decade. She chaired the VLA New Members Round Table (NMRT) from 2014–2015 and enjoyed being part of the VLA Conference Committee in 2020 and 2021. After serving on the VLA Continuing Education Committee in 2021, she was named the 2022 VALLA coordinator. She then worked with a team led by Dr. Jennifer Brown and Clint Rudy to reimagine VALLA into the launchpad for library leadership it is today.

Howard says, "Being a VLA member is one of my favorite parts of working in libraries. The connections I’ve made have been invaluable, and I’m constantly inspired by the brilliance of its members and leaders. Although I’ve served on and led several committees over the years, I’ve long hoped to take a more active role in VLA leadership. Now feels like the perfect time to throw my hat in the ring. I’ve gained so much from my membership and would love the opportunity to give back and fully immerse myself in VLA leadership."

Tray Reynolds - Treasurer

David “Tray” Reynolds is currently a Young Adult Library Assistant for Roanoke City Public Libraries. He has been working in libraries for 3 years and came to librarianship looking for a path to community engagement and encouraging the love of public libraries. Reynolds shares, "A big reason I wanted to become a librarian is because as an African American male I noticed the lack of representation of professionals that looked like me in the Library field. I am looking to inspire my community to see themselves in librarian roles by actively pursuing my MLIS and becoming involved in library organizations such as VLA, ALA, PLA and the Black Caucus Library Foundation. Attending VLA last year was a life changing experience for me as I was able to connect with so many dedicated librarians, attend thought provoking seminars, and join fantastic forums such as Librarians of Color, and the New Members Roundtable forum. I came away really wanting to get involved with VLA by any means necessary and literally jumped at the opportunity to become treasurer for VLA. The most rewarding part of my job is that librarianship has managed to make me a local celebrity thanks to the great work we do and I truly know I am better person for pursuing librarianship." 

Gladys Bell - ALA Councilor

Gladys Bell shares, "VLA has had the benefit of exceptional leadership over several decades, and has consistently brought the central concerns of librarians to the membership.  It would be an honor to serve as the VLA ALA Councilor-at-large in a new and impactful way. Having served as an elected ALA Councilor-at-Large for over ten years and as an academic librarian for decades with extensive experience in the governance of librarianship at the state and ALA level. I am deeply committed to the growth, advocacy and support of our profession and this role provides an exciting and a continued opportunity for me to further contribute to the development of the library community in Virginia, while also representing our interests on a national scale. I believe my experience, my passion for libraries, and my dedication to serving the profession make me a strong candidate for this role as Virginia’s ALA Councilor-at-Large."