About Us

Lara Devereaux is a recent 2024 graduate of St. John’s University, where she earned her MLIS with a focus on academic libraries and a Management for Information Professionals Certificate. She has previously worked in both academic and public libraries, but her passion is working with college students and supporting their research and work. Lara grew up in a military family and has lived all over the country, where she has seen the impact of funding on education and libraries. Lara is dedicated to serving libraries and promoting information literacy, intellectual freedom, and the sharing of resources and information. Lara currently lives in Virginia and is a member of the Virginia Library Association and ALA’s Government Documents Round Table. 

Aileen Haggerty is a library assistant at the Free Library of Philadelphia. She has spent many recent years in a second grade classroom and is excited to be on this new adventure in libraries. She is active in building a more democratic union supporting all workers. She is committed to making sure libraries are welcoming and inclusive spaces, as well as fully-funded so that they are open to the public more often!

Roxanne Pico-Lenz has dedicated her career to serving her community through programs, exhibits, and services catering to diverse groups within her community while giving her community a window into different perspectives. Born in Chicago, Roxanne grew up with an appreciation of food, celebrations, and traditions of the many countries of her peers. It is her goal to show her community the value of diversity and the beauty and wonder that it adds to life. Roxanne works out of Norman, Oklahoma, where she earned her MLIS at the University of Oklahoma. She is a member of REFORMA and is the chair of the EDII Committee for the Oklahoma Library Association.

Katie Scott is a Youth Services Librarian in Conway, Arkansas. In this position, Katie creates innovative programming for tweens and teens while serving as an advocate for youth presence and voice in libraries. Katie is passionate about libraries being spaces of community connection and enjoys putting together programs that celebrate the varied interests of the library community.   

Katie graduated from Hendrix College and holds a Master of Education in Instruction and Learning from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Katie was selected as a participant in the ALA Emerging Leaders Class of 2024, where she worked on the project “Fighting Silent Censorship”, sponsored by ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Round Table. Understanding the critical importance of stories in our world, Katie is excited to use her Emerging Leaders experience to further support libraries and institutions, especially those serving young people, who are facing challenges and censorship.  A collector of hobbies and consumer of books, Katie enjoys anything with adventure, mystery, or a happily ever after.  

Jillian Underwood-Jenkins is an Adult Services Librarian at Oceanside Public Library in Oceanside, California. This is a new role, as previously, she was a Librarian in Teen Services managing the Library’s teen internship and volunteer programs. Jillian runs the Library’s Seed Library, and has a passion for making the garden a place for education and exploration. She is a member of the American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT), Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) and is the Treasurer for Oceanside Unified School District’s Career Technical Education Advisory Committee.

Outside of the library, Jillian can be found reading Grady Hendrix, watching a black and white movie, or attempting to grow vegetables.