American Library Association
Chapter Councilor Report
for the Maine Library Association
Melora Ranney Norman
May, 2004
Introduction
Participation in the activities of our professional associations provides endless opportunities for career growth and development. Maine Library Association members are encouraged to monitor the state's electronic library list, MELIBS, where information of primary and current interest about the American Library Association is regularly posted. However, it is also a good idea to check the ALA web site frequently and keep informed about the activities of the many different sections, committees, round tables and other units that may be of specific interest to individual librarians' fields of expertise.
Of Recent Interest
Recent years have seen the American Library Association take steps to keep up with trends in technology, with varied results. As with all such efforts, there have been people who thought that things were moving too quickly or too slowly, and there have been trials along with the successes.
Demands by some of the membership to progress toward virtual decision-making and conducting of business on the Web between Midwinter and Annual Conference have been tempered by concerns that the quality of communication and attendance would suffer. There are also difficulties inherent in making the technology conform to open meeting policy, which states that members may attend all but sessions closed for specific reasons requiring discretion.
What has been accomplished is the creation of a special category for virtual members on committees, which may do such things as work on collaborative publications or documents between official meetings. The web site's design has been changed to use database-driven technology which is intended to allow for improved searching. The initial result of this redesign was not well-received, as it created very long URLs, many broken links, and loss of access to previously-available information. Efforts have been underway to address these concerns. Also, 2004 saw the advent of the first online election. Primary complaints have been people not getting paper ballots as requested and awkwardness of not having all of the biographies and position statements of the candidates in a browsable format. ALA staff have been working hard to address all of the missing paper ballot concerns, and as the end of the election approached it was clear that despite concerns, voting was up.
Another major development was the creation of an Allied Professional Association which would have a different be able to undertake certfication and advocacy efforts on behalf of the library profession (as opposed to libraries and the public). This association is still in its infancy; however, it now has a new person in charge and is developing activities and revenue streams.
Heading into the 2004 Annual Conference in Orlando, the Intellectual Freedom Committee has sent out a report on its work toward an updated Intellectual Freedom Manual. Efforts to update language where appropriate, take into account new developments in technology and the law, and clarify where necessary are all underway. There is an attempt to respond to the CIPA decision in such a way as to state what rights users have and the obligations of libraries to do things like minimal blocking and unblocking on request.
Midwinter 2004
Honorary Members
Sanford Berman & Norman Horrocks received honorary membership in ALA--the highest honor the Association can bestow.
Cuba Issue
Representatives of a group of Cuban activists that call themselves "The Independent Librarians" (ILs) have been seeking ALA support for some time. The issue is very complicated and polarized, and has been exacerbated recently by a Cuban governmental crackdown on dissidents. On the one hand, the group's spokespersons have asserted that these individuals are fighting government censorship, providing access to banned materials in their homes and being persecuted because of it. Opponents of the movement have asserted that the group is comprised not of librarians but of political activists who illegally receive money and goods from hostile foreign governments, primarily the United States. They claim that these activists would be accused of similar crimes and receive similar sentences here in our country. The matter is further complicated by the fact that the professional librarians of Cuba dispute the claims of the ILs. Both sides have for the most part agreed that an embargo that severely limits trade with Cuba is hurting the situation and should be lifted.
At the annual 2003 conference in Toronto, Council had referred continued debate on this issue to the International Relations Committee and the Intellectual Freedom Committee for consideration. A task force from these two committees issued a report with the following conclusions:
Conclusions
"Since the commitment to intellectual freedom is a core value of the library and information profession worldwide, ALA joins IFLA in support and assistance to the Cuban library community in safeguarding free access to print and electronic information, including the Internet. IFLA has also called on Cuba's librarians to implement a code of ethics for its library profession developed by ASCUBI.
At the IFLA General Conference and Council in August 2001, ALA and ASCUBI presidents signed "A Protocol to Cooperate" that included plans for exchanges of materials, professional exchanges between American and Cuban librarians, attendance at conferences, and many other cooperative activities. Work continues on these initiatives intended to build mutual respect and trust among librarians and library workers in the two nations.
ALA supports IFLA in its call for the elimination of the U.S. embargo that restricts access to information in Cuba and for lifting travel restrictions that limit professional exchanges. ALA also supports IFLA's call for the U.S. government to share information widely in Cuba.
ALA joins IFLA in its deep concern over the arrest and long prison terms of political dissidents in Cuba in spring 2003 and urges the Cuban Government to respect, defend and promote the basic human rights defined in Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
ALA supports IFLA in urging the Cuban government to eliminate obstacles to access to information imposed by its policies, and IFLA's support for an investigative visit by a special rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights with special attention given to freedom of access to information and freedom of expression, especially in the cases of those individuals recently imprisoned and that the reasons for and conditions of their detention be fully investigated.
Proclaiming the fundamental right of all human beings to access information without restriction, ALA joins with IFLA in urging the Cuban library community to monitor violations of freedom of access to information and freedom of expression and to take a leading role in actively promoting these basic rights for all Cubans."
This report was adopted by Council.
Complete text is available on the ALA web site.
From the Membership Committee report:
Health Insurance Member Benefit
"At the 2003 Annual Conference, we reported to Council that the Committee had endorsed a member health insurance program frm the Near North Group, Inc. In August 2003, the Near North Group was sold, and the various member health programs, although still available, were distributed among different administrators. The Membership Committee decided that ease of access to a unified program is a value and asked staff to identify other options for providing member health insurance programs through a single administrator.
This past fall the Member Insurance Task Force (comprised of representatives from divisions, round tables, BARC, and the Membership Committee) reviewed a proposal from Marsh & McLennan Companies. The proposal includes all of the elements of the program endorsed by the Committee and also includes two additional features that the Task Force feels are valuable additions. The components of this plan include Short-term medical, catastrophic, medical, long-term care, disability income, term life, discount programs, dental, and lifeline screening (mobile health screening services). The dental and lifeline screening programs are the additions.
The Membership Committee has checked references for the program and endorsed the program for ALA members. Rollout is scheduled in Spring 2004."
Action Request--Library Support Staff Member Category
"The Congress on Professional Education III (May 2003) had a number of recommendations for the Membership Committee that related to increased member participation and enhanced inclusiveness of library support staff members in ALA. At the 2003 Annual Conference, the Committee received COO approval for a designated committee slot for a library support staff member. The Committee also formed a joint LSSIRT/ALA Membership Committee task force to identify dues options and marketing possibilities for library support staff members.
The Task Force recommended the formation of a dues category for Library Support Staff Members with a dues rate of $35."
Membership is proposed to be divided then into two categories:
A. Personal Members
1. Regular Members -- includes librarians as well as others employed in library and information services or related activities in positions that either: a) require a masters degree; or b) requie state level certification; or c)are managerial.
2. Library Support Staff Members -- others employed in library and information services or related activities.
Primary concern expressed about this proposal involved assertions that dues should be based on salary. Others asserted that they were separate issues. Ultimately, the action was approved by Council. Membership will vote on this change in the next ALA election.
ALA FY 2003: The Year in Review--Treasurer's Report
Action Goals FY 03
Campaign for America's Libraries
Equitable access to knowledge and information resources
Leader in technology
Leader in Continuing Education
Protect intellectual freedom
Promote 21st Century literacy
Financial Highlights
Launched successful @ your library campaigns:ACRL and ALSC
Developed partnerships to foster cultural programming: Elizabeth and NEA Live at the Library
Office for Accreditation provided web-based training
Released on-line newsletters
Upgraded hardware, software and peripherals
Successful conferences and meetings: COPE3, Toronto Annual Conference
Publishing released 28 titles
Conference Committee
Exhibitors very unhappy with low traffic
Divisions: Give no-conflict time to exhibitors
Exhibitors: Make exhibits enticing & exciting
Want to take a serious look at Midwinter
Ideas: Lower cost exhibits-only badge, evening hours for exhibits.
The Intellectual Freedom Committee Report and RFID
Radio Frequency Identification systems are proliferating in business and are being adopted for use by libraries. These systems basically embed a trackable computer chip into items which can then be tracked. Depending upon how much personally-identifiable information is "linked" with these chips, privacy of individuals can be severely compromised. The technology can be extremely powerful: for instance, a whole stack of books could be checked in at once, or a stolen item out could "tell" authorities where it had been taken.
The Intellectual Freedom Committee chair, Nancy Kranich, noted that right now, RFID is benign--but in the future it might not be so. If tags are embedded in such things as books then we have a situation where there is promiscuous opportunity for tracking. IFC will co-sponsor a program on the topic Orlando 2004 . The Committee will be looking at fair information practices, other best practices, how people are already using it, and guidance. The IFC welcomes input from members and others about what they're doing. There are proposed guidelines on developing a privacy policy which libraries are encouraged to use.
Some Other Actions of Interest
DEFEATED, A motion to adopt ALA CD#57, Resolution on Rescinding the ALA Motto, which read: “That the American Library Association rescind its current motto and that the current ALA motto be removed from the ALA Handbook of Organization and from any other print or electronic documents in which it may be used, when those documents are next revised or reprinted.”
ADOPTED, ALA CD#20.2, Resolution on Proposed Amendments to the USA Patriot Act, as amended to read: “That the American Library Association supports proposed legislation currently in Congress that will amend those sections of the USA Patriot Act that abridge historic rights of library users so that those rights will be restored in full; that the American Library Association opposes any further initiatives on the part of the United States government to constrain the free expression of ideas or to inhibit the use of libraries; and that the American Library Association urges the United States Congress to oppose legislation, regulations, or other initiatives that threaten or further abridge the rights of inquiry and free expression.”
ADOPTED, ALA CD#20.3, Resolution Commending the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) Clearinghouses for Their Services to the Education Community, the Library Community, and the Public, which read: “That the American Library Association (ALA) acknowledges the significant contributions made to the creation and dissemination of education information by the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) Clearinghouses:
ERIC Clearinghouses:
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Adult, Career, and Vocational Education
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Assessment and Evaluation
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Community Colleges
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Counseling and Student Services
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Disabilities and Gifted Education
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Educational Management
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Elementary and Early Childhood Education
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Higher Education
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Information & Technology
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Languages and Linguistics
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Reading, English, and Communication
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Rural Education and Small Schools
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Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education
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Social Studies/Social Science Education
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Teaching and Teacher Education
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Urban Education
Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouses:
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Child Care
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Clinical Schools
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Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education
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Educational Opportunity
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Entrepreneurship Education
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ESL Literacy Education
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Homeless Education
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International Civic Education
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Rural Mathematics Education
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U.S.-Japan Studies
Affiliate Clearinghouse:
And, that ALA thanks and commends the staff members of the ERIC Clearinghouses for their decades of leadership, dedication, and superior service to education professionals, information professionals, and others interested in education information.”
ADOPTED, ALA CD#20.4, Resolution Commending the Government Printing Office and the National Archives and Records Administration, which read: “That the American Library Association commend the Government Printing Office and the National Archives and Records Administration for this Memorandum of Understanding and their ongoing commitment to the preservation of and provision of permanent public access to government information.”
ADOPTED, ALA CD#35.1, Resolution in Support of Clark Atlanta University School of Library and Information Studies, as amended to read: “That ALA opposes the closing of the SLIS, calls upon the trustees and administration of Clark Atlanta to reverse their decision, that a task force be appointed by the President of ALA to develop and implement, expeditiously, a proactive action plan to seek the reversal of the closure of the Clark Atlanta University School of Library and Information studies; that the task force determine the strategies and procedures necessary to ensure that ALA is better positioned to detect warning signs of similar closures and take appropriate preventive actions; and that the task force report its actions and recommendations at the ALA 2004 Annual Conference. ”
