MLA's ALA Councilor Reports on Midwinter Meeting
Mary Rzepczynski, assistant director of the Delta Township District Library, is Michigan's American Library Association councilor. The ALA Council is the governing body of ALA and establishes policies to plan and carry out programs and activities of the association. The Council meets twice a year, at ALA Midwinter Meeting and ALA Annual Conference. ALA's 2010 Midwinter Meeting was held Jan. 14-19 in Boston. A roundup of the Midwinter Meeting follows.
A complete listing of all resolutions and action items from Council Sessions will soon be available at http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/governance/council/councilactions/index.cfm.
According to ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels total registration for the 2010 Midwinter Meeting reached 11,095 by Monday, January 18. Registration for Midwinter in Denver was 10,220 by Monday, January 26, 2009, 13,601 for Philadelphia 2008, Seattle in 2007 was at 12,230 and San Antonio in 2006 at 11,084. Future Midwinter Meetings will be held at San Diego (2011), Dallas (2012), Seattle (2013) and Philadelphia (2014). Future Annual Conferences will be at Washington, D.C. (2010), New Orleans (2011), Anaheim (2012), Washington (2013) and Las Vegas (2014).
ALCTS SYMPOSIUM: "AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: OUR FUTURE FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX:" This session involved intensive discussion among 60 library practitioners from across the United States and representing dozens of academic, school and public libraries. Small group discussions analyzed and debated the merits of 13articles mostly by non-librarians representing visions about the future of library service during the new decade of 2010 to 2020. Some recurring themes reported from the breakout groups included the need for libraries to balance the commitment to privacy with the growing demand for personalized service, the growth in the importance of electronic over print resources and the expanding role of the library in providing patrons with connections in an increasingly networked world. Mobile devices with which patrons access information are growing in number and type so that libraries must remain flexible (agile) in addressing the requirement for public space as well as the powerful IT infrastructure required to deliver the connections. In assessing the skills needed by librarians and libraries in facing the challenges, it was emphasized several times that we must strive to be "less transitional and more transformational" in our behavior. Through planning, better negotiation with vendors and closer understanding of the use patterns of our public, we need to sharpen our visioning skills. Political and business savvy was also noted as critical in making librarians of the new decade better at bargaining with vendors (particularly ILS and databases vendors) and with funding authorities.
One of the most interesting articles discussed had appeared in the September 15, 2009 issue of Library Journal under the title "The E-Memory Revolution" by Jim Gemmell and Gordon Bell. It was surmised that a new breed of "digital person" and innumerable electronic or "e-memories" are currently being created in which much of our past is available to be harvested or collected in the future. "The rise of digital records of daily life means unmatched access to our pasts, presenting both challenge and opportunity to libraries." Discussions among symposium participants related how companies often maintain e-records of customer transactions as libraries sometimes do with the willing participation of patrons who want to see records of what they have already read for purposes of enabling personalized service. It was observed that new generations of library users appear less concerned with privacy issues and more committed to enhanced networking and exploration. The huge, self-established Facebook pages were cited as examples of a cyber presence and also, perhaps, a cyber legacy. The discussions in this ALCTS symposium were substantive and relevant to the work of Libraries and to our service missions.
ALAWO (ALA Washington Office) UPDATE: The ALA Washington Office presented a review of issues facing the Library community as Congress and the Obama administration proceed into a new decade. ALAWO Executive Director Emily Sheketoff and Lynne Bradley, director of the Office of Government Relations (OGR), described several emerging opportunities and cautioned that the need for active, vibrant advocacy is more important now than ever. Lynne discussed how efforts to modify the U.S.A. Patriot Act – especially Section 215 – are reaching the point during the next few days where steps will be needed by library advocates to call members of the House-Senate Conference Committee. Senators Feingold and Durbin were noted as firm supporters of ALA positions on this issue.
OGR Associate Director Corey Williams reported that the settlement between Google and authors/publishers concluded in September 2008 has been amended and an ALA Task Force headed by Jim Rettig is investigating the implications for libraries. A final "fairness hearing" is scheduled to be concluded by the courts on February 18.
OGR Assistant Director Jessica McGilvray reported that the Obama administration has taken productive steps to make government information more accessible to the public. Miriam Nesbit of the Office of Government Information Services (National Archives Office) is working in cooperation with ALAWO to review complaints about government agencies for not releasing information in a timely manner and also preparing recommendations for improving access to government information so that such measures as Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) will become less necessary.
Emily Sheketoff spoke with much force and skill in describing the huge influx of money that could be headed to empower libraries in many areas – especially rural – to achieve broadband connectivity. Although ALA's own submission for the first round of broadband grants was not successful, OITP has every intention of trying again in round 2 (according to Alan Inouye, director of OITP), and it is hoped that libraries will check the "Know Your Stimulus" section of the ALAWO Web site "every day from now to March 15, 2010." Keri McGuire of OITP also discussed the release of information on round 2 on January 15, and urged libraries interested in this development to download OITP's "latest publication, a profile of five library networks that successfully upgraded their broadband connectivity." This information is located at http://ala.org/casestudies.
Emily was equally articulate in expounding upon the opportunities faced by libraries upon the possible success of the "Jobs for Main Street Bill" in which $650 million to employ thousands of staff persons for public libraries who will be designated to help our patrons to use our libraries in developing job hunting and career development skills. She urges that we "inundate" the Senate with calls for the passage of our library segment of this bill.
Emily also explained her plan to have a Library Advocacy Day Rally at 11 a.m. on June 29 in Washington, D.C. This rally would be followed by a concerted effort by library advocates to lobby their senators and representatives on Capital Hill. She indicated that in consequence of this effort, there will be no Library Legislative Day in 2010, but that this would resume in May 2011. To register for the rally, contact ALAWO at http://www.ala.org/lad.
ARTHUR CURLEY LECTURE: Former Vice President Albert Gore gave a 90-minute speech that kept most of a 3,000-person audience in rapt attention as he described his newest book, Our Choice, which is available both in adult and young people's editions. Although he went through the book in a chapter-by-chapter manner similar to a book report or review, the subject matter and delivery by this powerfully articulate Nobel Prize-winning advocate was sufficient to elicit several very enthusiastic ovations. The dire consequences of failing to address the crises of our addiction to carbon-based fuels and the consequent catastrophe of global warming were described as well as the sensible and relatively simple efforts that humanity can make to save billions of lives. This lecture was a superb tribute to Arthur Curley and to the American Library Association.
COUNCIL I: BARC (Budget Analysis and Review Committee) Chair James G. Neal reported on the highly skillful fiscal management of ALA during 2009. Anticipated revenue shortfalls for 2009 were addressed with corresponding expense reductions – including elimination of positions and furloughs. Since the association ended fiscal 2009 with a surplus of several hundred thousand dollars, incentives amounting to about $253,000 were provided to ALA staff as compensation for the furlough losses they sustained in dealing with the budget crisis. The net revenue for 2009 general fund was $213,296. An anticipated shortfall for 2010 based upon the first months of fiscal 2010 (ALA's fiscal year begins September 1.) shall be addressed through measures similar to those initiated during 2009.
The Endowment Fund Report by Dan Bradbury (senior trustee) revealed that through careful management balancing and controlling risk, the Endowment Fund achieved market value of $28,680,000 by the end of 2009 and thereby recovered most of the losses that occurred since high point of its value was reached at the end of 2007 of $31.22 million.
ALA President Camile Alire discussed the accomplishments of her first six months as president and progress made by her initiative the ALA Advocacy University and establishment of advocacy toolkits for all types of libraries. President-Elect Roberta Stevens highlighted her three initiatives for her presidential year (2010-11). They include Frontline Fundraising training for libraries, efforts by libraries to cultivate authors as library advocates in a program called "Our Authors, Our Libraries" and a contest that will encourage young people to produce film clips for publication on YouTube with the theme, "Why I need my library."
Former ALA President Betty Turock spoke with great passion about the need for greater diversity in the library profession and backed it up with a $100,000 donation to fund the Spectrum Presidential Initiative: National Initiative for Inclusivity in America’s Libraries.
A Resolution Declaring and Promoting 2010 as the Year of Cataloging Research was introduced by Diane Dates Casey and Janet Swan Hill on behalf of ALCTS and was passed unanimously.
In addition to remarking on higher than expected registration for this Midwinter, ALA Executive Director Keith Fiels indicated that the economy has impacted ALA membership with a 2.7 percent decline in our ranks. He also reported that a sound recording of the Council deliberations will be available on the ALA Web site. This is an important first step in making Council deliberations more accessible to the ALA membership.
ALA-APA COUNCIL: ALA Executive Director Keith Fiels and ALA Treasurer Rod Hersberger reported that the Library Support Staff Certification program will commence on January 25 and hopefully realize sufficient revenue to reverse the downward fiscal direction of ALA-APA. The ALA-APA ended 2009 with a deficit of $15,244 and has failed to repay any portion of the initial $250,000 loaned by ALA for startup back in 2003. The debt has been raised to $275,000 in order to give ALA-APA the opportunity for the certification program to establish a sufficient influx of revenue. According to Fiels, that should be evident by October.
COUNCIL II: Council was pleased to hear of the outstanding work being done by the Freedom to Read Foundation and to learn about its efforts to support litigation in defense of our liberties. FTRF President Kenton Oliver delivered reports on emerging challenges to our efforts to preserve intellectual freedom and privacy rights and introduced the new executive director of the Office of Intellectual Freedom, Barbara Jones. (Freedom to Read Foundation memberships are $35 for personal members and $100 for organizations.) ALA Treasurer Rod Hersberger reported on the current situation of ALA’s budget and steps anticipated for FY 2011 to contain what is expected to be another very challenging year of shortfall in revenue and rising costs. Libraries across the country are struggling with limited budgets and this will impact ALA revenues. He warned that one of the largest ongoing expenses with which ALA will have to deal is the rising cost of post-retirement health insurance benefits of ALA staff. It was suggested (by Councilor Bernie Margolis) that ALA consider continuing membership for those librarians who are experiencing unemployment. Currently, the membership fee for unemployed librarians is $35. Hersberger indicated that a report will be forthcoming on the costs involved for the association with waiving even this fee for the unemployed. Programmatic priorities for 2010 to 2015 were approved unanimously by Council as a guide to budget preparation for FY2011. A Resolution in Support of National Health Care was defeated due to deficiencies in the document rather than views on the need for health care reform. Most Councilors favor the concept of health care reform and had already passed a resolution with near unanimous vote on July 15 that was considered by many to be sufficient representation of ALA views on the importance of reforming health care in the United States.
COUNCIL III: It was announced that Kevin Reynolds and J. Linda Williams were elected to the ALA Executive Board for the term 2010-2013. Martin Garnar, chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee, reported on current activities of the committee. A resolution in honor of the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund’s 40th anniversary was approved by Council. The Fund was "founded in 1970 to help librarians who have been denied employment rights because of their defense of intellectual freedom or because of discrimination." Mario Ascencio, chair of the ALA Committee on Legislation presented the report of COL and several action items. Resolution on Transparency and Openness in the Federal Government was passed unanimously. Resolution to Support Digital Information Initiatives at the U.S. Government Printing Office was passed. Resolution on Universal Access to Broadband was passed unanimously. Beverly Lynch, chair of the International Relations Committee presented a Resolution on Rebuilding Libraries and Archives Damaged or Destroyed by the Earthquake in Haiti. This worthy resolution passed unanimously. It had been announced earlier that about $27,000 had been collected for Haiti relief during the few days of the Midwinter Meeting.
Former ALA president Jim Rettig gave a brief report from the newly formed Google Book Settlement Task Force. This group met for the first time on January 16 and shall inform ALA Council as the implications of this settlement for libraries become more evident. Some programs concerning the settlement will probably be set for ALA Annual Conference.
Much consternation and even a resolution concerning the ALA Event Planner took considerable attention on the Council List prior to this Midwinter and some time on the floor of Council III. Assurances by Keith Fiels that the Event Planner issues will be addressed were welcomed with relief.
A Resolution in Support of 2010 Spectrum Presidential Initiative was passed unanimously and served as a follow up to the remarks of Betty Turock in the first Council session. ALA Council remains firmly committed to expanding diversity in the library profession.
Thank you to ALA Councilor-At-Large James B. Casey for his thorough summation of events.
