CLA Weblog Submissions
Do you have information that would be of interest to the library community? Please send your weblog submissions to the CLA office at lfisher@cla-net.org.
California Chapter Councilor Report on ALA Mid-Winter
Submitted by Jackie Griffin, CLA Chapter Councilor
Seattle, January 18-25, 2007
The 2007 Mid-Winter Conference proved to be a very busy and interesting conference. Seattle worked well for the conference. The weather was mild and the conference center was well located for people attending meetings all hours of the day and evening. Total conference attendance was 12,196. This compared with 11,084 for San Antonio Mid-Winter, 2006 and 13,232 in Boston, 2005. Typically, conferences on the East Coast are better attended than West Coast conferences due to proximity to several large metropolitan areas.
- From this councilor's perspective, the most important issue at council was the lively and respectful debate at Council II on the role of ALA in political issues. This debate emerged from resolutions submitted on funding the war in Iraq and impeaching the President. A summary of the debate and outcome is included under Council II on Tuesday Jan. 23rd.
- Also important, with long-term consequences was the "Diversity Counts" report. Our profession is failing our younger members and we must find solutions or lose our most valuable resource.
- Michael Gorman was honored with a tribute from the California Library Association for his tremendous volume of work in our field.
- None of the resolutions voted on at Mid-Winter were available before the start of conference. This created much frustration, especially for state chapter councilors as we were unable to consult with our constituencies before voting. Therefore, any feedback on how I decided to vote on these issues would be appreciated for insight into how to proceed in the future.
- I have not included information on resolutions that I regarded as housekeeping more than policy. In cases where I have given information on resolutions I have only provided the resolved clauses rather than the full resolutions including whereas clauses. If there is a particular resolution that you would like to see in full please let me know and I will attempt to fax it to you.
Sunday January 21, 2007
ALA Council/Executive Board/Membership Information Session
Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC)
Total revenue for ALA was $1 million over projections for FY07 with a total budget of $56.54 million.
ALA Endowment Trustees Performance Report
Endowments showed a gain of approximately $3.6 million (10.9%) to $29,028,000 in 2006. The trustees have begun placing some funds in socially responsible funds in response to member concerns. Unfortunately these funds did not do as well as more general funds during this investment year.
Nominating Committee Report
Only 20% of all members approached agreed to run for council. There is general concern about lack of involvement, lack of diversity, lack of front-line staff etc.
Polls will open March 15th.
"Diversity Counts" Report
A demographic survey is available at www.ala.org/membersdemog Salary survey www.ala.org/ala/ors/reports/Librarian
Salaries1982-2003-091605.pdf Complete report www.ala.org/ala/ors/diversitycounts/divcounts.htm
- The number of librarians age 45-54 has grown by 95% in the last 10 years.
- We're retaining older librarians who do not retire or advance.
- We're losing younger librarians who have few opportunities to advance.
- We have less diversity in the workforce.
- We are developing a huge leadership gap.
However, it should be noted that this report ends (2003) before Spectrum Scholarships took effect (2003).
ALA-APA Information Session
APA was created by ALA to create more knowledge and information about library employee salaries, to help create opportunities for advancement in the profession and to be an advocate for improving library salaries. All members of ALA Council are also members of APA council.
ALA-APA is struggling with becoming a self-sustaining organization. FY06 showed a deficit of $39,552. However, income did increase by 68% last year and APA hopes to begin repayment of the "seed loan" of $250,000 from ALA by FY09.
Librarian salaries nation-wide and classification-wide range from 22,000-253,500.
ALA Council I
EPA Library Closings
The Bush Administration introduced an FY07 budget that included a $2 million cut to EPA that would reduce that agency's library network budget by 80% and force closure of many of the regional EPA libraries. Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City were closed in 2006 and the Main EPA library in DC was closed to the general public. These closures were done before the FY07 budget was passed.
The EPA insists that these closures will not affect access to environmental information. Many librarians, scientists and EPA staffers disagree.
The EPA sent several officials to Mid-Winter and they met with ALA staff, concerned librarians and others in an attempt to reach a compromise. Much discussion happened although no outcome was announced.
Hot Topic Discussion
President Burger introduced a new idea for council where a "hot topic" would be discussed in small groups in an attempt to resolve a problem. President Burger described it as being based in "speed dating".
Council discussed the reasons that members do not participate in council and ways to encourage new participation.
Monday Jan. 22, 2007
APA-ALA Council
California Councilor at Large, Michael McGrorty, brought a resolution to council on minimum salaries for professional librarians.
"RESOLVED, that the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association endorses a minimum salary for professional librarians of not less than $40,000 per year; and be it further RESOLVED, that the details of this endorsement shall be published and otherwise disseminated by the Director of the ALA Allied Professional Association as appropriate."
I voted yes. Motion passed unanimously.
Tuesday Jan. 23, 2007
ALA Council II
Budget Analysis and Review Committee
Defer graduated dues study recommendations from Annual, 2007 to Mid-Winter 2008.
I voted yes. Motion passed unanimously.
ALA Treasurer's Report
Net assets grew 9%. Total assets $59.25 million. Total liabilities $28.4 million.
Publishing, meetings and conferences make up 75% of revenue. CEPA and CDA loans have been repaid. Net assets have grown from $367,000 in 2002 to $1.64 million in 2006. Audit gave ALA its highest rating. The increase in dues led to no loss in membership.
Freedom to Read Foundation
This year, the Freedom to Read Foundation took part in several lawsuits in which First Amendment rights were under attack both federally and in individual states. More information is available at www.ftrf.org.
The work the Foundation does is incredibly important to all of us. I encourage individuals and institutions to join the FRF.
Honorary memberships were given to four individuals for their work in libraries. David Cohen, Alice Hagemeyer, Anita Schiller and Alphonse Trezza.
At this point, three resolutions were brought before council that caused much debate and discussion about council's role in political discussions. The debates were well informed, passionate, respectful, useful and thoughtful.
Resolution to Advocate Ending Funding for the War in Iraq.
"Therefore be it resolved that ALA support efforts in the US Congress to stop the Iraq War by withholding funds for military actions in Iraq, except for funds necessary for a safe, quick and orderly withdrawal."
I argued against this resolution. Not only do I not think that the resolution itself speak to ALA's mission, I also think that these types of resolutions are expressly opposed to our core principle of intellectual freedom. Any time we take a political position we risk having a chilling effect on our ability to be a resource for our users who are seeking information on these subjects. Others spoke of their concerns that this measure did not even address libraries in its resolve clause. It might have been easier to support this resolution if it mentioned funding for libraries.
Chapter Councilors expressed concern that these resolutions were not given to us before we came to council so that we might poll our constituents.
Members who spoke in favor of this resolution did feel that it met our core principles.
The resolution was defeated 95-48. I voted no.
Resolution on Impeachment of George W. Bush.
"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Library Association considers that George W. Bush, by such conduct, warrants impeachment".
Before this resolution could be debated the chair asked for a vote on whether the majority felt that these types of resolutions met the purview of the organization. A vast majority voted no. However, we were surprised to realize that the vote had ended debate on the issue which was not the intent of the body. Hearing the majority express a desire to allow the debate to go on (I said that I would like to have the issue debated and then I would vote against it) the chair rescinded the vote and debate was held. This debate reflected most of the same issues from the previous one.
The vote was overwhelmingly against the resolution. I voted no.
A final resolution of the day called for a reaffirmation of ALA's policy of not affiliating with the Boy Scouts of America until such time as they end their exclusionary policy with regard to religious beliefs or sexual orientation.
This resolution grew out of concern because the Association of Library Service to Children has a liaison to BSA listed on its website. ALSC asserts that it simply provides booklists and other support of the same type that it provides to any organization that provides service to children. Questions were raised about what did the word "affiliation" mean in this resolution (no support at all?) and what does ALSC
mean by "liaison." The resolution was deferred until the Annual Conference.
Council III
Tribute to Michael Gorman
I had the opportunity to present a resolution from CLA on behalf of Michael Gorman on the occasion of his retirement. I talked about how proud I was of ALA's leadership after Katrina and how we appeared as heroes in New Orleans because of Michael's leadership. I presented him with a token of our appreciation and the resolution that was passed at CLA in November listing his numerous achievements in the field. Michael seemed very pleased and touched.
Election to the Executive Board
Larry Romans and Charles E. Kratz, Jr. were elected to the Executive Board
Intellectual Freedom Report
Concern was expressed that some states are dropping their Intellectual Freedom Committees. IFC Chair Kent Oliver asked that states continue to support IFC committees.
Committee on Legislation
Resolution in Support of "Orphan Works"
"RESOLVED, That the American Library Association urges Members of the US Senate and the US House of Representatives to introduce legislation to amend the Copyright Act to facilitate the use of "orphan works" if the user has made a reasonably diligent, good faith search to locate the owner of the work but was
unable to find the owner."
After discussion of what "reasonably diligent, good faith search meant" and hearing from ALA staff that it was standard legal language for such searches, measure passed. I voted yes.
Resolution in Support of Immigrant Rights
RESOLVED, that ALA strongly supports the protection of each person's civil liberties, regardless of that individual's nationality, residency, or status; and be it further
RESOLVED, That ALA opposes any legislation that infringes on immigrant's rights to use library resources, programs, and services on national, state, and local levels.
After discussion of language and what was meant by "immigrant" this resolution passed.
I voted yes.
Resolution Affirming the Role of Libraries in Providing E-Government and Emergency Services.
RESOLVED, that the American Library Association urge governments at all levels to acknowledge and support the essential role local libraries play in providing e-government and emergency response/recovery services, as well as include libraries in relevant legislative or other policy actions; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the American Library Association encourage continued research documenting library needs and capacity to provide effective e-government and emergency response/recovery services, and help libraries develop best practices and train staff to deliver these essential services.
Motion passed. I voted yes.
International Relations Committee Report
Council voted to appoint an ALA representative to the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield, an organization established Jan. 2006 with the mission of protecting cultural property in times of war.
I voted yes.
Report from the Parliamentarian
Eli Mina is the Parliamentarian for ALA Council and he has provided much support in making Council a more effective body.
There was much discussion about the shutting off of debate during Council II.
The sense of the group seemed to be that we are an organization that values free and open speech and we do not wish to cut off debate.
Accessible Digitalization Projects Resolution
This resolution came very late to Council and it lacked necessary information. The intent of the resolution was to encourage all libraries that are digitalizing collections to make them accessible to our disability populations. However, the sense of the body was to refer it to the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies for their input.
Motion to refer passed. I voted yes.
Discussion on Earlybird Registration
Earlybird registration comes too soon. There is earlybird and early earlybird and registration and late registration and on-site registration.
The earlybird registration period is too short which penalizes school librarians.
Earlybird comes too early and penalizes young librarians who are struggling to make ends meet and must wait months to be reimbursed by their libraries.
Posted on January 29, 2007 10:13 AM | Permalink