CLA Weblog Submissions
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Executive Commitee and Assembly
March 19, 2008
CLA Governance Boards to Meet
The CLA Assembly and the CLA Executive Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at the Sacramento Public Library, 828 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, in the west meeting room of the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria. The Assembly meeting will begin at 10:00 am and will run until 12:30 pm. The Executive Committee will be meeting from 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm in the same room. The meetings are scheduled to allow CLA leaders to participate in Library Legislative Day on April 16.
This is your opportunity to submit agenda items for these meetings on the attached form. All agenda items need to be submitted to the CLA office no later than April 1, 2008. Agenda items may be submitted via email to info@cla-net.org, or by fax to 916-447-8394. All CLA meetings are open to members who wish to observe. Contact Sue Negreen, Executive Director, if you have questions.
Posted by claadmin at 2:13 PM
October 24, 2006
Come See Your CLA Leaders At Work
Have you ever wondered who makes decisions about CLA programs and services? We elect our leaders each year, and the annual conference gives us a chance to see them at work!
All CLA members are invited to sit in on the upcoming CLA governance meetings. The Executive Committee will be meeting on Friday, November 10, 2006 from 9:00 am - noon. The Assembly will be meeting in the from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm. The Assembly will meet again on Monday, November 13, 2006, from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. All three meetings will be held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Bataglieri Room, Sacramento.
CLA's annual membership meeting will be held on Sunday morning, November 12, 2006 at the Sacramento Convention Center, Room 307. The meeting will begin promptly at 9:15 am, and Nancy Amidei, Director of the Civic Engagement Project, University of Washington,is scheduled to speak. The membership meeting is an opportunity to hear from CLA leaders about the association and its plans for the future.
All these governance meetings are planned in conjunction with the 108th Annual Conference and Exhibition. Contact the office if you would like more information.
We hope to see you in Sacramento in just a few weeks!
Sue Negreen, CAE
Executive Director
Posted by claadmin at 6:04 PM
June 22, 2006
Executive Committee meets in Plumas County
In order for CLA leadership to understand the true "nature" of rural librarianship, the CLA Executive Committee's June 2 meeting was held in Plumas County, where President Margaret Miles is County Librarian. After meeting up Thursday afternoon in the small town of Graeagle, the committee went on a short hike through Plumas-Eureka State Park, where Cheryl Gould was lucky enough to see a real live bear!
Budget
During the meeting, the Executive Committee adopted the 06-07 budget, which includes funding for:
- possible new special initiatives tied to the second year of the long range plan
- board training and development
- re-design of the CLA website
- sponsorship of National Library Legislative Day
- two issues of Clarion magazine
Because conference fees have not increased since 2000, the budget also reflects a small increase in registration and adds an incentive for early registration.
Public Relations Campaign
Based on a survey taken at the Library Director's Forum, the Executive Committee discussed next steps for implementing a Public Relations campaign based on PLA's "Smartest Card" campaign. The CLA Public Relations Committee will be asked to participate in the development and promotion of online resources to assist libraries with promotion; CLA will also partner with InfoPeople to provide training in marketing.
Management Services
With the skills of our Executive Director, CLA is in a position to offer management services to other library-related organizations. The Executive Committee agreed that we should pursue this as a potential for non-dues based revenue.
Scholarship Critera
The Executive Committee agreed to change Edna Yelland and Begun scholarship criteria to allow applicants to attend any ALA accredited library school as long as they are permanent California residents and intend to work in a California library upon graduation.
The Executive Committee will meet again on September 11 in conjunction with the Leadership Retreat.
Margaret Miles, 2006 President
margaretmiles@countyofplumas.com
Posted by claadmin at 6:29 PM
May 30, 2006
A Guide to CLA Dues Reimbursement for Your Employer
By Kit Willis, Chair, Membership Committee
If you're not the only one benefiting from your CLA membership, then why are you the only one paying for it?
Your CLA membership isn't just valuable to you, it's valuable to your library, too. As a CLA member, you know you receive top-quality professional publications, gain opportunities for essential continuing education, and have access to a unique set of resources to improve your own worklife. But is your employer aware of how these benefits can advance your entire library's mission and work?
By demonstrating how your CLA membership improves your work, and therefore your workplace, you can encourage your employer to pay your CLA dues. Here are 4 simple steps to help you build a compelling case with your boss, board, or library "Friends" group to pay for your professional memberships:
- Make a list of all member benefits that directly AND indirectly benefit your library. We've included some ideas at the end of this article to help get you started.
- Review your library's mission and strategic goals. Match up specific organizational or departmental objectives with CLA resources that help you meet those goals.
- Talk with your supervisor about why membership has been valuable to you, and go through the list of ways that CLA benefits 'match' your library's goals.
- Ask your supervisor to cover all or part of your CLA dues as an investment in your own professional development, and as a benefit to the entire library.
Don't be shy. Remember, for pennies a day in dues, your library gets a well-connected and informed staff member who is up-to-date on new trends around the library world and understands how the latest technology, legislative issues and new media affect your patrons. Plus, you get the personal bonus of an employer who understands and acknowledges this in a special way.
You know how important your membership is. Here are a few facts about membership benefits to share with your employer:
- Your membership will help you stay up-to-date with the latest news focused on the work you do every day through CLA's weblog and new bi-annual journal, Clarion and the list-servs for CLA's Sections.
- CLA offers a members-only discount on conference attendance. This discount helps the library stretch its budget for purchasing and continuing education.
- CLA offers scholarships and awards that can directly subsidize the library budget for conferences, continuing education and special programs.
- You are eligible to serve on CLA committees and work groups that set the course for the future of libraries. Boards and community leadership are proud of, and find added value in, staff members who are recognized by their peers for outstanding service.
- Your own staff development goals can be enhanced through the continuing education, skills training, and mentoring programs offered by CLA. Plus, you bring back new ideas to your coworkers from every outside training.
- Members have unique opportunities to contribute articles, propose new publications, become a reviewer and bring your library's best-practices to a new audience. This brings recognition to your library in the wider community of professionals.
- You and your library have networking opportunities through CLA's online members-only directory that enables you to share experiences, develop professionally, and interact with library leaders throughout California.
For more information on CLA member benefits, or to learn more about the opportunities described above, visit www.cla-net.org or call (916) 447-8541. We are glad that you are a member and support your efforts to gain the recognition from your employer that you deserve.
Posted by claadmin at 2:25 PM
March 7, 2006
Executive Committee Meeting Highlights
CLA's Executive Committee met in Sacramento on January 30, 2006, and took action on a number of items.
CLA supports Bond Campaign
The Executive Committee received a request for a $25,000 contribution from the Bond Act Committee. The Library Bond Act of 2006 will be on the June 6th statewide ballot, and will provide $600 million for library construction. First priority will be given to eligible applications not funded in the 3rd application cycle of Proposition 14.
Ann Cousineau, Campaign Chair, reported to the Executive Committee that campaign infrastructure costs are estimated to be between $150,000 and $225,000, and the Committee has so far raised around $100,000.
As one member of the Executive Committee so aptly stated, a new library building is the best public relations campaign there is. Ultimately, we voted to give the Bond Committee $30,000, since our 2005 conference brought in more revenue than anticipated.
I encourage all CLA members to visit http://yesforlibraries.com/ to see how they can make a personal contribution.
Long Range Plan Accomplishments
All Committees and Sections were asked to report on their progress made so far on CLA's long range plan (see http://www.cla-net.org/aboutcla/threeyearplantest.php - for the plan approved by Assembly.) Highlights of progress made so far include:
Student Round Table recruited a student member for the 2006 Conference Planning Committee, and is planning several programs to help attract and expand student participation at our next conference. Round Table members have also recruited school liaisons to "carry the CLA message."
Legislative Committee has sent regular updates to Calix and the CLA webblog, and used Calix to generate interest in Day in the District.
Finance Committee developed charts that graphically illustrate CLA's financial picture which are now posted on our website at httphttp://www.cla-net.org/weblog/mt/archives/cat_insidecla.php#000182.
Conference Planning Committee has had several meetings to organize our next statewide conference in November.
Financial reports
Independent Auditor Edward Pierini presented the results of his audit of CLA records for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005. The audit was conducted in accordance with US generally accepted auditing standards. In his opinion, the financial statements present CLA's financial position fairly. His report was a standard, unqualified opinion. He noted CLA continues to run a very lean organization. Treasurer Annette Milliron noted the association is meeting budget projections for the current fiscal year.
The Executive Committee will be meeting again in Sacramento on April 27, following Library Legislative Day. The Assembly is scheduled to meet that day as well. All CLA governance meetings are open to members. Contact CLA's Executive Director, Sue Negreen, snegreen@ cla-net.org, for further information.
Margaret Miles, CLA President, 2006
Posted by claadmin at 12:55 PM
February 14, 2006
ALA Council Report
Submitted by Jackie Griffin, California Chapter Councilor
Mario Gonzalez from Greenwich Public Library, CT, Terri G. Kirk, from Reidland High School, Paducah, KY, and Roberta Stevens from the Library of Congress were elected to the Executive Board.
Gerald Hodges
Gerald was a special friend to ALA Chapters and to the membership. He was a longtime ALA staff member and many of us knew him and his winning smile. Gerald died shortly before ALA. He will be sorely missed.
Certified Public Library Administrators Program (CPLA)
The CPLA program is up and running. This provides an ALA certification to public library administrators who already have a master's degree from an ALA accredited library school and at least 3 years of supervisory experience. Applications to participate in this program are now being accepted by ALA and providers of the required courses were approved at this conference. Contact me for additional information.
Leslie Burger's Presidential Initiative
Leslie Burger will become president of ALA in June. She has chosen as her theme: Libraries Transform Communities. It will focus on leadership development, policy development, salaries and education, tips for transforming libraries, and expansion of the library advocacy network.
Group Call-In to Congress
On Wednesday morning between during a council meeting break, we had a group call-in to Congress - literally. President Michael Gorman led us, while being filmed, in calling his Congress person and asking for support of revisions in the USA Patriot Act.
ALA COUNCIL MEETINGS
ALA council met three times for many hours. It considered both issues of interest and concern to the entire profession and somewhat arcane issues related to the operation of the association.
Here are the major resolutions we considered, how I voted, and the outcome of the discussion.
Resolution on the Instructional Classification of School Librarians. There is a movement around the country for state legislatures to pass a law under the general title of "65% solution." Background on this issue can be found at http://www.schoolmatters.com/pdf/65_paper_schoolmatters.pdf.
I'm sure if you just search Google under "65 percent solution" you can find additional information. In summary, this "solution" says that 65% of each dollar should go to classroom activities. School libraries are not officially so defined as classrooms by the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), which is the official federal agency that defines educational activities. These are used primarily for the collection of statistics but impacts also how money is allocated. We have been told, but again I've not verified this, that NCES has issued an interpretation of their definitions that says that school libraries are indeed classrooms but that they cannot officially change the definition until NCES goes through a reauthorization process.
Here is a summary of the resolves:
ALA communicate regularly with state Governors about the "critical need for them to demonstrate their commitment to quality education for every child by including school libraries in all state education priorities and rejecting publicly any policy that would dismantle school libraries and reduce or eliminate the staffing of those libraries by state-certified school librarians."
Inform state legislators that school libraries should be included in any definition of classroom Work with NCES to change the definition
I voted yes. The resolution passed.
Dues increase
ALA Treasurer Teri Switzer gave a brief presentation.
She said it had been 11 years since last dues increase. The recent strategic planning effort at ALA, ALA Ahead 2010 had over 20,000 members providing input. Members told ALA that they wanted more programs and more support for their favorite causes at ALA. They want more support for local advocacy to improve funding and for advocacy training. In order to provide all of these services, ALA needs a strong foundation on which to build. ALA's Executive Board and leadership endorse this dues increase. ALA is barely holding its own now. There has been a 30% reduction in purchasing power since 2000. Budgets have been flat for 5 years. ALA has reached its financial limit. ALA cannot be all we need it to be and want it to be without stepping up to the plate and contributing more to our dues.
ALA members will be asked to vote on the dues increase this spring.
Here is the proposal in brief.
- Regular membership up $10 per year for 3 years.
- Library support staff members raises $3 per year for three years.
- Trustee and Associate members raises $5 the first year, then $4, then $5 for a total of $11 Student members (limited to 5 years) raises $3 the first year, then $2, then $3 for a total of $8.
- Other members (which includes retired) raises $4 the first year, $3 the second and $4 the third for a total of $11.
I voted yes. The resolution passed.
Treasurer's Report
ALA had a fairly good year LAST year due to holding positions open. This was a one-time saving and led to the ability to pay off some long term loans. However, to move forward with long term goals and plans, more revenue is desperately needed. Treasurer Teri Switzer shared this information with us:
$1.00 in 2000 is worth $1.25 in 2005.
Revenues of $43 m should really be $50 m to keep growing programs. In 2000, ALA significantly invested in technology - it is now time to replace the equipment and software. ALA payroll has decreased by $500,000. ALA needs people to continue to offer programs that ALA members say they want. Reserves are ½ of what they were in 2000. At the same time, the ALA Washington Office, and ALA members, are being asked to deal with significant issues: Patriot Act and privacy; CALEA that requires telecommunications carriers to enable law enforcement's legitimate wiretapping requests; Digital TV bills; E-rate; LSTA and other library funding; Social legislation ALA's continuing priorities are: Diversity; Equitable access to information and library services; Education and lifelong learning; Intellectual Freedom Advocacy for libraries and the profession; Literacy; Organizational excellence. All of this leads to the same conclusion: the dues need to be increased as well as economies continued.
Resolution on a Graduated Dues Structure. There was also a resolution recommending a study of a graduated dues structure, and other funding alternatives, with a report due in 2007. Before it could even be discussed, it was moved to refer the resolution to BARC (The Budget Analysis and Review Committee). There were several reasons for the referral. First, we had just passed a resolution for a dues increase. The Membership Committee had studied this issue already. Second, while there was agreement that other sources of funding ALA should be studied, this seemed to come too soon after a potential dues increase. The hope is that there will be a full discussion at the annual meeting in New Orleans. Right now, it is hoped that the new dues increase request will pass and ALA can move forward on implementing ALA Ahead 2010.
I voted for the referral. The referral passed.
Committee on Legislation (COL)
COL brought several resolutions to Council. Here they are with a summary of their content. If you would like to see the full resolution with all its whereas and resolves, I'll be happy to send it to you.
Resolution on the USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization asks Congress to:
- amend USA PATRIOT ACT in a manner that "safeguards the privacy rights and constitutionally protected civil liberties of all library users, library employees, and U.S. persons"
- amend to show that law enforcement officials have to be specific about who they are investigating with evidence that an investigation is warranted (i.e. no fishing expeditions)
- require FISA Court to make a finding that these facts are sufficient to warrant an investigation
- allow a recipient of a FISA records search order to consult with an attorney, to challenge the search and gag order
- asks that Section 215 have a sunset date of no more than four years
- urges Congress to "intensify its oversight of the use of the USA PATRIOT Act as well as other government surveillance and investigation"programs
- reasserts ALA's "commitment to the rights of inquiry and free expression" of everybody.
I voted yes. The resolution passed.
Resolution on OMB's Guidance to Agencies Pertaining to the Implementation of Section 207(d) of the E-Government Act of 2002
- asks for timely hearings on this Act with librarians as witnesses instead of just posting on the web and asking for comments
- asks that Congress provide oversight that the recommendations of the Categorization of Government Information Working Group be implemented (basically that government documents be cataloged in a way that the public can actually find them)
I voted yes. The resolution passed.
Resolution on Protecting the Toxics Release Inventory Program
- opposes the Environmental Protection Act's proposal to reduce the frequency and threshold requirements for Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting
- urges Congress to stay with the original intent to "make information, including off-site consequence analysis information, publicly available on a timely basis"
- urges Congress to "direct the EPA to maintain the current TRI reporting thresholds and frequency."
I voted yes. The resolution passed.
Resolution on the Changes to the IRS Tax Forms Outlet Program asks that ALA work with the IRS to "reconfigure the Tax Forms Outlet Program to meet the needs of the participating libraries and the public they serve." Basically, the IRS isn't sending enough forms and wants librarians to help everybody get the forms online. Some libraries and people would like to actually get the forms.
I voted yes. The resolution passed.
Resolution Affirming Equity of Access Through Universal Service, E-Rate and Advanced Broadband Services
- asks Congress "assess and review the impact of regulatory changes on the public interest, including libraries, educational institutions, and state and local governments"
- asks for "open access and interoperability as well as for prohibitions against control of access by only a few"
- continue the E-rate or a similar program.
I voted yes. The resolution passed.
Opposition to Judge Samuel Alito as U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice. The Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (COSWL) proposed a resolution to oppose the confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito as associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and communicate this opposition to the U.S. Senate.
Posted by claadmin at 2:10 PM
February 14, 2005
CLA Executive Committee Meeting Highlights
CLA's Executive Committee met in Sacramento on January 12, 2005. Committee members completed the next step on the association's long range plan, heard a report from the auditor on 2004 finances and took action on a number of issues.
Auditor Ed Pierini, Pierini Accountancy, reported CLA's total liabilities and net assets for 2004 were $1,101,010. Unrestricted net assets for the year were $415,140. $118,750 has been designated a temporarily restricted net asset, as the funds are to set up a scholarship program for children's librarians. The change in net assets for the year was $17,768. Treasurer Annette Milliron reported the 2005 conference was successful financially, easily meeting and probably exceeding, budget projections.
A draft of the Long Range Plan was reviewed with Committee Chair Gail McPartland, and the time table for completing the planning process was modified. A draft of the plan has been circulated to Assembly members, and the plan for FY 2006-09 will be presented to the Assembly for adoption in April. The plan will be available for use at the September 2005 leadership retreat.
Support for the Library Bond Campaign in 2006 was discussed. A statewide public education campaign on libraries is needed, and it was agreed the association will fundraise to support this campaign. $5,000 from the current association budget was allocated to support this education campaign.
Further steps were taken to implement the recommendations that came out of the Communications Task Force recommendations. A $1,000 an issue stipend for a magazine editor was approved, and there was consensus that the Vice President should serve as the facilitator of communication within the organization, so a stipend for a weblog editor was not needed. The Research and Publications Committee will be screening applicants for the magazine, with a goal of printing one issue in 2005 and two issues thereafter.
The situation in Salinas related to the announced closure of all three libraries in the community was discussed. The President was asked to write an open letter to the Salinas City Council and others to confirm CLA's commitment to equitable access to library services for all California communities.
Finally, a report from the Organization and Bylaws Committee resulted in several actions. A modification of the CLA Bylaws that will clarify current language related to "subgroups" in sections will go to the members with the CLA ballot in July. The model section bylaws were revised to allow for a write-in candidate for section elected offices if two candidates are not identified for certain positions, and the Assembly will be asked to consider modification of the standing rules to clarify current language related to "discussion groups."
The Executive Committee will be meeting again in Sacramento on April 21, following Library Legislative Day. The Assembly is scheduled to meet that day as well. All CLA governance meetings are open to members. Contact CLA's Executive Director, Sue Negreen, snegreen@ cla-net.org, for further information.
Posted by claadmin at 1:11 PM
January 4, 2005
Welcome to the CLA Weblog
In the coming months, we will be adding articles to each of the main categories to your left. Our most recent articles will appear here on our weblog home page. You can also scan through the archives by Month or Recent Entries or use the Search this site tool to your left.
We hope you enjoy reading our articles!
Posted by claadmin at 6:00 PM