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June 30, 2008

ALA-APA Council Anaheim

ALA-APA Council

 

Normal housekeeping issues were addressed.

 

The budget report for ALA-APA predicts a revenue shortfall for this year and a discussion followed.  A vote was delayed until tomorrow to give council time to review the budget for next year before making a decision.

 

We received a report on the Certified Public Library Administrator Program (CPLA).  Seven librarians have completed the program.  There were 106 candidates in the program in 2008.

 

The report from the Committee on the Salaries and Status of Library Workers let us know about several programs sponsored by this committee.  They brought resolution to the council:

 

ENDORSEMENT OF A LIVING WAGE FOR ALL LIBRARY EMPLOYEES AND A MINIMUM SALARY FOR PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS

 

Whereas, the American Library Association – Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) council, at it January 2007 Midwinter Meeting, adopted a resolution entitled “Endorsement of a Nonbinding Minimum Salary for Professional Librarians;” and
Whereas, the resolution resulted in a nonbinding endorsement of a “minimum salary for professional librarians of not less than $40,000 per year; which, adjusted for inflation now amounts to $41,680, and
Whereas, the ALA-APA Standing Committee on the Salaries and Status of Library Workers is charged “to guide ALA-APA activities in support of better salaries, comparable worth, pay equity, and similar programs related to the status of librarians and other library workers;” and
Whereas, the aforementioned Standing Committee sees the need to strengthen ALA-ALA’s position with regard to wages and salaries for all library employees, and with regard to variable costs of living over time and across geographical locations; and
Whereas, a living wage is defined as “net” or “take home” pay earned during a full-time workweek, not to exceed forty (40) hours per week.  A living wage provides for the basic needs (housing, energy, nutrition, clothing, healthcare, education, childcare, transportation, and savings) of an average family unit; and
Whereas, the family of four Federal poverty guideline for 2008 is $21,200, a recommended minimum hourly wage of $10.20 is necessary for a full-time, year-round worker to exceed the poverty guideline and sustain a basic living; and
Whereas, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the All-Urban Consumer Price Index (CPI), the standard measure for inflation of goods and services, which is adjusted monthly to reflect price inflation; now, be it
Resolved, that the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association endorses a minimum entry-level salary for professional librarians of $41,680 that is adjusted annually, according to the latest cost of living index/CPI data; and, be it further
Resolved, that in recognition of the skills and competencies required of all library workers, the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association endorses a minimum wage for all library workers of at least $13.00 per hour, to be adjusted annually in relation to the Federal poverty guidelines.”

 

This motion passed. I voted for it.

 

Keith Michael Fiels reported that attendance was 21, 468.

 

The meeting adjourned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                   

Posted by Rob at 01:31 PM | | Comments (0)

June 29, 2008

ALA Anaheim Council I

Greetings from Anaheim! 

 

I am a member of the Council Orientation Committee which met on Friday and then sponsored the council orientation session on Saturday morning.  Those meetings went well.  We are constantly looking for ways to help new councilors figure out what happens and how to do their job better.

 

I am also an ALA Ambassador.  The purpose of this program is to help new attendees navigate through their first conference.  As a part of this commitment, I worked an information desk for two hours on Friday.  It was very much like working a reference desk in a library.  It was fun and I got to know several other members that I had not met before.

 

I attended a work session, “Advocating for all libraries: Saving the Library Ecosystem.”  This was a brainstorming session for the new ALA Advocacy Committee and Jim Rettig’s Ad Hoc Advocacy Task Force.  We addressed four questions in break out groups:  1.  commanlities in Library Advocacy: Getting the Message Out, 2. Creating Best Practices of Successful Collaborations, 3.  Finding Solutions, 4.  Creating Connections that stick: Shaping the 2008-2009 Year.  This was a lively group and a number of issues were brought forward and several solutions were suggested.  This information is being compiled and will become part of a report from the committee.

 

Sunday morning I went to the talk by Don Borchart who wrote, “Free for All” a book about his public library in LA.  He was a humorous speaker and had a number of anecdotes that were similar to events we all experience. 

 

Sunday morning starts the busy council schedule.  We started with the ALA information session, where we get more detailed reports on budgets and investments, etc. 

 

Keith Michael Fiels, ALA Executive Director reported attendance figures as of Saturday:  attendees 15,436; exhibitors 5,627 for a total of 21,063.  This figure is lower than last year in Washington, DC but significantly higher than two years ago in New Orleans.

 

The ALA-APA information session followed.  There was minimal information to report so we adjourned early.

 

Council I
Normal housekeeping tasks and information occurred.

 

All state association presidents and other officials were introduced.  There were a number of association presidents from foreign countries present.  I was introduced as the MPLA President.

 

 

We received reports of those who have been nominated to committees that require our vote and for all other committees. 

 

We spent some time on the process of changing the format of resolutions.  While this took a lot of debate, I believe that the outcome was positive and a new form will be devised to improve the resolutions process.

 

There are discussions underway to shorten both Mid-winter and Annual conference in the future.  The earliest this could possibly happen is 2010 due to contracts already in place for intervening years. 

 

Key points from the Treasurer:

 

1.      ALA needs $600,000 to $750,000 in new revenue each year just to stay even
2.      ALA has a de-facto two year budget cycle-due to timing of conference
3.      2009 is the last year of the dues increase
4.      ALA must continually develop new sources of revenue

 

 

Five strategic pillars of finances:
1.      Continue to seek efficiencies in existing operations in make resources available for strategic priorities.
2.      Increase collaboration between ALA units to reduce redundancy and increase impact of programs and services.
3.      Invest in and develop new revenue generating products, publications and services in response to library needs.
4.      Seek additional financial support from outside organizations that share ALA’s mission and vision.
5.      Utilize increased dues revenue to support strategic priorities and initiatives.

 

The meeting adjourned.

 

 

 

 

Posted by Rob at 02:04 PM | | Comments (0)

June 19, 2008

Additional information about Resolution on Cuban librarians

Janet Swan Hill is a long-term ALA Councilor.  She posted the comments, copied below, to the council list.  I asked if I could copy and paste them here because I thought they did an eloquent job of looking at the issues.

There is also a Cuban Update prepared by the ALA International Relations Office which is quite helpful in providing historical perspective and a timeline of activities, to date.  It is a very long document, so I have not copied it here, but I would be happy to forward it to you if you are interested.  Just send me an email at rbanks@tscpl.org and I will respond. 

Quoted from Janet Swan Hill-Councilor at Large:

"One of the hot buttons regarding the issue of the jailing of this particular group of Cuban dissidents is the fact that those who wish ALA to take some kind of action keep referring to the dissidents as "independent librarians".

It seems that they believe that if someone is a librarian, ALA will (or

should) automatically come to their rescue, or at least take up cudgels on their behalf.

There are problems with this approach that have contributed to ALA's being unwilling to support any of the resolutions that has been brought forward:

-- The people being referred to are not actually librarians.

-- The people have not been jailed for being librarians.

-- It can be disputed that they were engaged in librarian-like activities, and it can be disputed that having information in your home that you may or may not lend is in any way equivalent to operating a library

-- Even if they were librarians, ALA does not have a responsibility to jump to the defense of people solely because they are librarians. Librarians are capable of crimes just like anyone else, and a librarian who steals a car, or jaywalks, or commits fraud, or violates copyright, or unlawfully pickets is not going to inspire the support of ALA. -- Even being a prisoner of conscience won't necessarily garner support. There are many beliefs that someone might espouse that could get them in trouble with the authorities that most in ALA would not be in sympathy with. (bigamy, racism, etc.)

Nevertheless, there appears to be little argument that these people in Cuba are "prisoners of conscience" .... that is, it appears that they broke the laws of their country primarily out of a conviction that what they were doing was right. And there seems to be little argument that the trials they received were not all they should be, and that the sentences that some received seem to be excessive for the offense.

So, for the sake of discussion, let's remove the appellation "librarian", and let's not even think about whether or not these people were "operating a library".

In that case, would ALA believe it to be its business to condemn a foreign country for arresting dissidents, trying them in brief and flawed trials, and issuing jail sentences that seem to be out of proportion to the crime?

Would our answer be different if the people were targeted because of their beliefs? Would our answer be different depending on the particular beliefs in question?

It's those things that will determine how Council acts on any resolution having to do with the so-called "independent librarians". Insisting on calling them librarians, and on calling their home-based collections libraries is deceptive and manipulative, and instead of increasing the likelihood that ALA will take the action proposed, it decreases it.

BY THE WAY .... I don't know the answers to the questions I asked above.

I'd be interested in hearing opinions."

Posted by Rob at 11:23 AM | | Comments (0)

June 16, 2008

Resolutions Calling For Release Of Persons Imprisoned For Independent Library Activities in Cuba

 Here is another resolution that has been sent to us in advance.  This issue has been debated for several years and ALA took a position on it in 2003.  Some are saying that our position then is still in effect and doesn't need to be re-addressed.  Others are saying that we need to keep pressure on Cuba to release dissidents.  There is even some debate about the use of the word librarian, in that these people were arrested and tried because they were working in opposition to the government of Cuba, not because of the books they had in their homes, it has even been reported that much of the material is available in official libraries in Cuba.  There is some question about where the books came from, who paid for them, and whether they were ever really shared with others in the community; so the label of librarian is questionable in some minds.  I am waiting to hear the discussion before I make up my mind.  While I personally condemn any suppression of people in Cuba, I don't know where this discussion may go and whether our current position is sufficient.  If you have an opinion, I appreciate your input.
Rob
Whereas: In March and April of 2003, twenty-three persons who established independent libraries were arrested in Cuba, sentenced in one-day summary trials to long prison sentences, and the entire contents of at least eight of their library collections were ordered by Cuban provincial courts  destroyed, incinerated or otherwise destroyed and

Whereas, The American Library Association "believes that freedom of expression is an inalienable human right, necessary to self-government, vital to the resistance of oppression, and crucial to the cause of justice, and further, that the principles of freedom of expression should be applied by libraries and librarians throughout the world" (Policy 53.1.12), and

Whereas, The American Library Association "deplores the destruction of libraries, library collections and property, and the disruption of educational process by that act, whether it be done by individuals or groups of individuals and whether it be in the name of honest dissent, the desire to control or limit thought or ideas or for any other purpose," (Policy 53.7, Destruction of Libraries)  and

Whereas, The American Library Association includes in its policy objectives" 1. To encourage the exchange, dissemination, and access to information and the unrestricted flow of library materials in all formats throughout the world" (ALA priority Area A: Access to information) 2. To promote and support human rights and intellectual freedom worldwide" (58.1 Policy Objectives ALA Priority Area C: Intellectual Freedom, Implemented 1989-1990), and

Whereas, The American Library Association has adopted as policy 58.4 Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers", therefore be it

Resolved, that the American Library Association joins with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International PEN, the Campaign for Peace and Democracy, the Committee to Protect Journalists,  the International Federation for Human Rights, the International Press Institute, the Global  Coordinating Committee of Press Rights, the International Press Institute, the Global Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations, the Inter American Press Association, the Organization of American States, the European Union Council and Presidency, the Personal Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the German Bundestag Commission of Human  Rights and Humanitarian Aid, the French Communist Party, the French Foreign Minister, Pax Christi of the Netherlands, the Socialist International, the World Council of Churches, and the national library associations of Estonia, Latvia, Poland and the Czech Republic, in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of those persons involved in the operation of independent libraries arrested in March 2003, and imprisoned following one day summary trials in April 2003 for the nonviolent exercise of their freedoms of expression, association, and the freedom to read, and be it further

Resolved, that the American Library Association call on the Cuban government authorities to return any materials confiscated from independent library collections which  have not been incinerated or destroyed and be it further

Resolved that the American Library Association recognize  the importance of and affirms its support for the whole Cuban library community, both those working in libraries funded and controlled by the government and those working in independent libraries, and be it further

Resolved that this resolution be sent to President Raul Castro and to Sr. Eduardo Torres Cuevas, Director of the Biblioteca Nacional Marti.

Posted by Rob at 10:04 AM | | Comments (0)

June 09, 2008

Resolution on support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

This is another resolution that will be presented at annual conference.  I haven't seen any discussion on this resolution yet.  Depending on what it says when it actually arrives at Council, I will probably support this resolution.   

 

Whereas the American Library Association supports Equal Employment
Opportunity 54.3, Inclusiveness and Mutual Respect 54.7, and Gay Rights
54.16, and

Whereas the American Library Association's commitment to Diversity includes
Combating Prejudice, Stereotyping, and Discrimination 60.3, and Recruitment
and Retention of Diverse Personnel 60.6, and

Whereas library workers are not federally protected from employment
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or
gender expression, and in fact continue to experience employment
discrimination, and

Whereas for over thirty years, there has been proposed legislation in
Congress to end this discrimination and declare that fairness is a
fundamental American principle, and that it is unfair to fire or refuse to
hire people based on identity, rather than job performance or
qualifications, and

Whereas the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was drafted to remedy
this lack of federal employment protection, and

Whereas H.R. 3685, the version of ENDA passed by the House on November 7,
2007, does not protect library workers from employment discrimination on the
basis of gender identity and expression,

Therefore Be It Resolved that the American Library Association call for the
reinstatement in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) of protections
for transgender persons from employment discrimination on the basis of
gender identity and expression, and

Be it Further Resolved that the American Library Association call for
passage of H.R.2015 or other inclusive version of ENDA by both Houses of
Congress, and

Be It Further Resolved that the American Library Association send this
resolution to members of Congress and other appropriate parties. 

Posted by Rob at 01:01 PM | | Comments (0)

Resolution on Member Access to American Library Association Council Transcripts

Here is the text for a resolution that will be presented at Annual Conference.  You will notice some editing.  The text is taken from a wiki and so has already started the typical process of editing that goes on up to the point we vote.  

 A short history of the topic:  There is a strong desire from the councilors that council actions be as transparent and inclusive as possible.   Given current budget restraints as well as time conflicts, there are many members who do not have an opportunity to view the council live.  This is one effort in that direction.  As obvious as some of this may seem, there are budgetary impacts for some of the proposed methods of addressing this goal, which make it a more difficult process, overall, than would be supposed.  It has also been suggested, but no resolution yet offered, to do live podcasts/videocasts of the council sessions.  Definitely a move in the right direction.
 

I am in favor of the end goal.  Depending on how this one plays out, I will generally support any transparency we can accomplish. 

 

 

 

Whereas, members of the American Library Association have expressed the need to understand more fully decisions made by the ALA Council, and 

 

Whereas, not all members of the American Library Association can attend the Annual and Midwinter Conferences, and

 

Whereas, not all conference attendees at e American Library Association Conferences can attend the ALA Council meetings, 

 

 

Therefore, be it resolved that the ALA Web Advisory Committee requests that the ALA Council staff post Council transcripts to a members-only page on the ALA web site, and

 

Therefore, Be it  further resolved that this resolution shall be implemented on the ALA web site as soon as the ALA Executive Director deems it feasible by the next meeting of the association within 3 months of the adjournment of the Council meeting in which it is passed.

 

Posted by Rob at 12:52 PM | | Comments (0)