Julius C. Jefferson Jr.

Julius C. Jefferson Jr. (born July 22, 1968) is an American librarian and is a section head of the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress.[1] He was elected president of the American Library Association in April 2019.[2] He started his term as the President of the American Library Association in June 2020.[3][4]

Julius C. Jefferson Jr.
President of the American Library Association
Incumbent
Assumed office 2020
Preceded by	Wanda Kay Brown
Succeeded by	Patty Wong (President-Elect)
President of the Freedom to Read Foundation
In office 2013–2016
Preceded by	Candace D. Morgan
Succeeded by	Martin Garnar
Personal details
Born	(1968-07-22) July 22, 1968 United States
Education	Howard University, University of Maryland
Occupation	Librarian

Jefferson received a B.A. in history from Howard University and an MLS from the University of Maryland.[1] He has served on the Executive Board (2007–2009) and is a member of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. He served as president of the Freedom to Read Foundation and president of the District of Columbia Library Association.[5][6]

Jefferson has held many positions in the American Library Association. He has served on its Executive Board and Council.[7] As chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee of the American Library Association Jefferson initiated Intellectual Freedom Summer School.[8] In 2019 he was honored with the ALA Equality Award (with Lorelle R. Swader) for his commitment to diversity and inclusion with a focus on the rights of underrepresented library workers.[9]

He is co-editor of the 2012 volume, The 21st-Century Black Librarian in America: Issues and Challenges, and has worked to get more Black men into the library profession.[10][11]