We are pleased to share this additional tribute, a memorial resolution, to John Spears. The first tribute is available on the Librarians We Have Lost digital memorial: https://lhrt.news/librarians-we-have-lost-sesquicentennial-memories-1976-2026/
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ribute 2 (submitted Rachel Fleming, December 8, 2025):
Core Board of Directors Meeting SEPTEMBER 2025 DOC #26.02 1 page DRAFT Memorial Resolution Honoring John Spears (1974-2025)
Whereas John Spears was a dedicated and energetic leader, an inspiring mentor, and exemplary of professional service to members of LLAMA and its predecessor, the Core Division of the American Library Association, during more than twenty-five years of membership;
Whereas John Spears spent much of his career leading public libraries across the country, Joliet PL (IL), Naperville Public Library (IL); Salt Lake City Public Library (UT); Pikes Peak Library District (CO) and Buffalo & Erie County Library (NY), where he championed serving diverse populations; Whereas John Spears actively participated in the Library Leaders and Management Association, serving as its president (2016/2017), chair of the LLAMA Reorganization Task Force (2015-2017), Public Libraries Advisory Committee (2013-2017), American Library Association Professional Ethics Committee, and many other committees;
Whereas John Spears made exceptional contributions to other professional organizations, including the American Library Association, the Library Administration and Management Association, the Freedom to Read Foundation, the Intellectual Freedom Round Table, the Public Libraries Association, and actively participated in state library associations, where he served, and most recently, the New York Library Association;
Whereas John Spears was recognized with a prestigious award: the Mary Bobinski Innovative Public Library Director Award (2024/NYLA);
Whereas John Spear’s generosity, kindness, dedication, and passion will be missed by all who knew him; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA), on behalf of its members:
1. Honors the life and leadership of our friend and colleague, John Spears, and thank him for his dedication and excellent service; and
2. Extends its deepest sympathy to his partner, Brian Dimit, and his family.
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In honor of the Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary of ALA) in 2026, the Library History Round Table is hosting Librarians We Have Lost, Sesquicentennial Memories -1976-2026. This collage of tributes seeks to honor librarians who died between 1976-2026. The tributes are published to ALA Connect, a digital memorial on LHRT News & Notes, and ALA's official repository (ALAIR).
We invite tributes from anyone about any library worker who passed away between 1976-2026. To submit a tribute, please use the form at https://lhrt.news/librarians-we-have-lost-sesquicentennial-memories-1976-2026-2/ Please consider including photos with permissions if possible.
For questions or comments, please reach out to Dr. Kathleen McCook (kmccook@usf.edu) or Brett Spencer (dbs21@psu.edu
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Brett Spencer
Reference Librarian
Thun Library, Penn State Berks
He/Him/His
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