The National Conference of African American Librarians (NCAAL) canceled its annual conference in Indianapolis amid controversy over the city’s library board’s refusal to permanently hire a Black woman as CEO.

Protests and a petition campaign have urged the Indianapolis Public Library Board to appoint Nichelle Hayes, formerly the library's interim CEO, to the city’s top library leadership position. But some board members remain unmoved, prompting NCAAL to dub Indianapolis “an inhospitable location” for its conference that was slated for July.

"The actions of the Indianapolis Public Library Board are a reflection of what happens within our profession, where hardworking, talented and qualified people are used to clean up messes, fix problems and to just be seen enough that a diversity goal is ticked without any substantive change," a Friday (Jan. 6) news release from the convention's planning committee said, according to the Indianapolis Star.

The Star reported that the announcement came one day after three members of the library board doubled down on their decision not to hire Hayes, stating in a six-page letter that she is unqualified for the position.

But Hayes, listed as president of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, had led the city’s library system for eight months in an interim role. She won support from two other board members.

"When entities believe you are not 'the person,' they create imaginary barriers designed to stop progress (for) the professional and the profession," the conference planning committee wrote in its statement.

Instead of Hayes, the board selected an outside candidate, Gabriel Morley, for the CEO position, local station WISH reported. But Morley declined the offer after the public backlash.

In December, protesters attended the library board’s meeting to voice their support for Hayes, citing her experience. They unsuccessfully demanded a vote at the meeting to appoint her.

Hayes also received strong support from at least 16 of the 25 members of the Indianapolis City-County Council, saying in a January letter that they have “watched with concern” as the controversy unfolds.

"Unless there are issues of which we have not been made aware, we ask the Indianapolis Public Library board of directors to heed the calls of our community and appoint Ms. Nichelle Hayes as the Indianapolis Public Library CEO," the letter stated, the Star reported.

According to Hayes’ bio on the Black Caucus’ website, the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science graduate was the founding director for the Center for Black Literature & Culture at the Indianapolis Public Library. She began her career at an elementary school in the city and later worked as an adult reference librarian, serving as a subject matter expert in business.