Taina Evans has been elected the 2025-27 RUSA Secretary.
Taina K. Evans is a Regional Director at the Brooklyn Public Library, where she oversees ten library branches, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to community engagement and innovative library services since 2007. Her notable “Our Streets, Our Stories” initiative, launched in 2013, preserves the vital oral histories of Brooklyn’s diverse residents.
Taina’s leadership extends to supporting library staff well-being, particularly through initiatives like “Branch Tap-Ins” during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has served as chair of RUSA’s Library Services to Aging Population and User Services in Public Libraries Committees and currently serves as President of the New York Black Librarian Caucus within the New York Library Association.
She also contributes to the field as an adjunct professor at St. John’s University, teaching Collection Development & Management, and is a contributing author to the Handbook of Black Librarianship, Third Edition (2024). With a Bachelor’s in Government and Politics and a Master’s in Library Science from St. John’s University, Taina K. Evans is committed to serving RUSA members and shaping a thriving future for the library profession.
As Secretary for RUSA of ALA, Taina is committed to empowering librarians and advancing the profession. Her goals include fostering well-being and professional development, creating opportunities for marginalized communities in librarianship, and advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She aims to nurture future library leaders through mentorship and to promote libraries as essential community resources. Additionally, Taina seeks to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing while ensuring RUSA remains a vibrant and forward-thinking organization.