Announcing the 2026-2027 Executive Board

News and Announcements,

Congratulations to NJLA’s 2026-2027 newly elected Executive Board members (and thanks to everyone who ran for office and voted in the election): 

  • Vice President/President-Elect: Sarah Lester, Director, Maplewood Public Library
  • Second Vice President: Diane Musella, Adult Services Supervisor, Ocean County Library
  • Treasurer: Samantha McCoy, Director, West Caldwell Public Library
  • Secretary: Gail Lordi, Adult Services & Reference Librarian, Garfield Public Library
  • Members-at-Large

    • Melissa Kuzma, Library Director, Parsippany Library
    • Ceciley Binegar, Librarian, Burlington County Library
    • Kate Davis, Assistant Library Director, Jersey City Free Public Library

In keeping with NJLA's Bylaws, we are releasing the full election results for all candidates in the election.

Vice President/President-Elect & Second Vice President

Sarah Lester (Director, Maplewood Memorial Library)

212 votes 40%

Diane Musella (Librarian 3 - Adult Services Supervisor, Toms River Branch, The Ocean County Library)

126 votes 24%

Crystal Hooper (Branch Manager, Somerset County Library System of New Jersey)

116 votes 22%

Charles E. "Chip" McAuley, PhD (Reference Librarian, Hamilton Township Public Library) 

77 votes 15%
Treasurer

Samantha McCoy (Director, West Caldwell Public Library) 

520 votes 98%
Abstain 11 votes 2%
Secretary

Gail Lordi (Adult Services & Reference Librarian, Garfield Public Library)

412 votes 78%

Narissa Palmer (Librarian, Outreach, Bayonne Library) 

119 votes 22%

Members-at-Large

Melissa Kuzma (Library Director, Parsippany Library)

228 votes 43%

Ceciley Binegar (Librarian, Burlington County Library)

212 votes40%

Kate Davis (Assistant Library Director, Jersey City Free Public Library)

186 votes 35%

Gary Marks (Reference & Outreach Librarian, William Paterson University of New Jersey) 

154 votes 29%

Alyssa Valenti (Electronic Resources & Web Services Librarian, Raritan Valley Community College) 

151 votes 28%

Megan Kociolek (Director, Clark Public Library)

145 votes 27%

Wen Gu (Library Director, Gloucester City Library) 

135 votes 25%

Victoria Sciancalepore (Digital Scholarship Librarian, Ramapo College of New Jersey) 

122 votes 23%

9 Sara Imranyi (Reference & Instruction Librarian, Middlesex College)

101 votes 19%

We're also releasing voter turnout percentages over the last ten years.

Year Votes Cast Percentage Eligible Voters
2026 531 14% 3,860
2025 923 22% 4,266
2024 676 23% 2,953
2023 636 26% 2,401
2022 516 47% 1,105
2021 217 19% 1,145
2020 551 47% 1,184
2019 578 47% 1,242
2018 395 38% 1,036
2017 566 43% 1,302