2026 Virginia Library Association Executive Committee Election
Second Vice President Candidate Statements

About the Second Vice President
The Second Vice President is a member of the Executive Committee and Council. The Second Vice President’s term is two year,s and they assume office immediately after the annual conference. The winner between these two candidates will serve from October 2026 - October 2028.

What's at Stake
Are you on a VLA committee or interested in joining one? The Second Vice President assists with committee placement and will work with VLA staff in the fall to meet with committee leadership and make recommendations on changes to procedures. Additionally, they are responsible for reviewing the VLA Manual and By-laws and making recommendations for changes as needed.

There are two candidates for Virginia Library Association Second Vice President. Learn more about them below.

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."

Kayla Payne holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from James Madison University and a Master’s of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina. A longtime resident of Staunton, she worked at the Staunton Public Library from 2012 to 2021 in a variety of roles, including circulation, reference, youth services, and technical services. She currently serves as the Collections and Technology Manager at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library in Charlottesville.
 
Kayla has been actively involved in professional library service throughout her career. She served on the Jefferson Cup Committee (now the Cardinal Cup) from 2015 to 2016 and was Secretary of the Virginia Library Association from 2019 to 2020. At JMRL, she contributes to strategic planning and innovation as a member of the Board-Level 5-Year Plan Committee, the Technology Committee, and the internal Staff Technology Advisory and Training Committees.

In addition to her professional work, Kayla is deeply engaged in her community. She currently serves as President of both the Skyline Connections Rotary Club and LEARN English and Reading Now, Inc., a local literacy organization.