Kansas ALA Councilor

My arrival was delayed and the following actions occured before I got to the meeting:

General business.

Policy monitoring committee had three action items.

1.  Key Action Areas - these are approved annually.

• Diversity
• Equitable Access to Information and Library Services
• Educatino and Lifelong Learning
• Intellectual Freedom
• Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession
• Literacy
• Organizational Excellence

This was approved.

2.  Support of Academic Freedom - voted on at Midwinter this was approved to move to the policy manual as below:

The American Library Association reaffirms the principles of academic freedom embodied in the American Association of University Professors' "Statement on Academic Freedom and Tenure" (1940) and opposes any legislation or codification of documents (e.g. the "Academic Bill of Rights" (ABOR) ) that undermine academic or intellectual freedom, chill free speech, and/or otherwise interfere with the academic community's well-established norms and values of scholarship and educational excellence.  This was approved.

Approved at Midwinter the following was approved to be added to the policy manual:

Rights of Librarians and Library Workers to Travel

The American Library Association affirms and supports the rights of librarians and library workers in or from the U.S. to travel to all countries in order to attend and participate in conferences, to purchase books and other library materials, to meet and develop working relationships with librarisn, to develop gift and exchange programs, to pursue and establish ties with library and other professional associations and libraries, and to conduct educational and professional library-related activities.  In additiona, ALA affirms and supports the rights of librarians and library workers from outside the U.S. to travel to the U.S., and not be prohibited to impeded by U.S. government policies, to attend and particpate in conferences, to purchase books, and other library materials, to meet and develop working relatinoships with librarians and library staff, to develop gift and exchange programs, to pursue and establish ties with library and other professional associations and libraries and to conduct educational and professional library-related activities.  This was approved.

The Chapter Relations Committee proposed the following resolution:

Resolved, that the American Library Association opposes Taxpayer Bill of Rights Laws (TABOR), also known by other names such as Taxpayer Expenditure Limitation (TEL), Stop Over Spending Now (SOS) and other names, through the state legislatures or by state constitutional amendment; and be it

Resolved, that the American Library Associatino encourages state and regional library associations to oppose the passage of these laws, and take steps necessary to defeat such legislation or constitutional amendments.  This passed.

 Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC) proposed to study the financial impact of a graduated dues study proposal.  This passed - I voted for.

This generated discussion on several levels.

• It is a study to study the feasability of a feasability study.  Considered by some to be a waste of time and beauracracy at it's finest.
• It doesn't mention other types of dues structures which were in the resolution at MidWinter.
• The apparent lack of forward motion on the concept.

Regarding point 1 - We have never collecte dsalary informatino on members.  It is time to do this and ncessary to determine possible income from this method.  This will be an expensive propositino and has not been included in the budget.  While this sounds ridiculous, it is actually a necessary step to proceed.

Point 2 - The title comes from the Midwinter resolution so does not refelct other methods, but the Chair of BARC, Patty Wong, promises the study of other alternatives is implicit in the recommendation from her committee.

Point 3 - Actually work has begun and will not proceed if this recommendation is not acted upon.  If we do not do this, we will go back to the beginning and start all over again, actually delaying the process.

While different facgtions had issues with some aspects of this process, it was agreed that we wished to proceed, so the recommendatino was accepted to move forward.  More to follow at Mid-Winter.This passed - I voted for.

Budgetary Ceiling for FY07 was passed - I voted for.

The Freedom to Read Foundation reported on various cases.  It was greeted with applause and cheers when formally announced that the FBI had withdrawn their request for information in the John Doe/Patriot Act case in Connecticut.  This brings that case to a close.

Resolution on the Dafur Genocide

Therefore be it resolved that the American Library Association Council urge all the relevant ALA units and the profession-at-large to highlight and explain the Darfur Genocide through collections, programs, display, resource guides, and other suitable means.

(Amended) Resolved that the ALA call upon publishers to acitvely seek and publish materials at both lay and scholaraly levels to add to public understanding of Darfur and other genocidal conflicts.

This passed as amended - I voted for both amendment and passage.

Conference data as of Monday. June 26

9,047 advance registrations, 2,916 on site registrations = 11,963 registrants  4,821 exhibitors for a total of  16,784.   Orlando was 19,500 at this point.

Council II adjourned early.

I have two forums this afternoon and then Council III on Wednesday.  This will be my last access to a computer until I arrive home.  I will post the activity from Council III later this week.  Please forgive any spelling mistakes-spell check is not working on this machine.

Rob Banks

ALA Councilor