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California Library Hall of Fame

Dora T. Ho

Retired young adult librarian Dora T. Ho has always advocated for young adult library services and diversity, equity and inclusion both locally and nationally during her illustrious library career of over four decades. She worked for over 26 years at the Los Angeles Public Library including one of the first staff to serve in the then newly minted Young Adult Services Department in the late 1990s. She also served as the President of the ALA New Members Round Table from 2000-2001, President of the Chinese American Librarians Association from 2007-2008, Treasurer of the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)from 2013-2016, then APALA President from 2017-2018.

Dora served in various roles as a member of the Young Adult Library Services Association including as Fiscal Officer from 2018-2019. For over 20 years, Dora was an ALA Councilor, including three years as an ALA Executive Board member. For over a decade, she has served as the Treasurer for the Joint Council of Librarians of Color.

During her long career, she mentored many new librarians, both formally and informally, through the UCLA Mentorship program and the APALA Mentorship program, as well as through her involvement and connections with various other professional development organizations.

Dora is also a long-time CLA member and continues to serve on various ALA committees during her retirement, undoubtedly making her one of the most prominent veteran Chinese American librarians in California.