ALA 2007 Annual Conference-Washington D.C.

ALA-APA (American Library Association-Allied Professional Association)
Information Session June 24, 2007

Terry Switzer, treasurer presented.

Council brought up the question of whether APA will be able to pay back loan from ALA since it shows a $500 deficit? Jennifer Grady is optimistic that APA will be able to pay back the loan. More funds will be coming in from donations and the sale of publications.

Council I June 24, 2007

Nominations for the Committee on Committees and Planning and Budget Assembly were made announced and a few additional candidates were added.

Report to Council & Executive Board by Keith Michael Fiels, Executive Director

• Library Day on Hill and book truck drill were announced.
• Usability/Redesign of ALA Website is moving forward.
• Ilovelibraries.org Advocacy Tool - New website for the general public where people can learn more about the excitement and vitality of today's libraries and become more active suporters.
• American Libraries Focus-A new video component of American Libraries Online alfocus.ala.org. First up on the site is Play "Wheel of Confusion" a lighthearted look at those confounding ALA acronyms.
• Membership-Dues increases have not created substantial member loss.
  

Implementation Report of Midwinter Meeting Actions
Discussion on whether Council should receive implementation information sooner that the next ALA Council Meeting.

ALA Council Orientation Committee Report on “Creating a Buzz about Council”
Joseph Eagan discussed strategies to more effectively promote the activities of Council and encourage members to run for Council seats. Suggestions are based upon ideas brainstormed by Council at midwinter meeting in Seattle.

Wikis.ala.org/Council has been developed.

Treasurer Terry Switzer presented financial info. re: APA and Kellogg report re: strengths and weaknesses of APA.

Donations to APA are deductible as a “business expense” for library employees.

APA Budgetary Ceiling of $323,914 was approved. Some discussion about whether projected revenues are realistic.


Approval of the proposed charge revision to the ALA-APA Committee on Organization.


Proposed change to have ALA APA committees accountable to board of directors rather than entire Council. Action item disapproved by vote.

Proposed-ALA-APA committees be required to submit to ALA-APA Council an update of their activities within a month after each Midwinter or Annual Meeting.

ALA-APA Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) Program Update

33 courses offered by 8 providers
76 candidates actively enrolled

Committee on salaries and the status of library workers report
The Better Salries and Pay Equity Toolkit was completely revised and updated in April 2007 and is available on the ALA-APA website-www.ala-apa.org/toolkit.pdf

Council II June 26, 2007

Committee on Legislation

Action items related to the FY 2008 appropriations bill:

Passed resolutions:

• Restoring full funding for the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program complete its activities.
• Full funding for government printing office appropriation of $182 million for fiscal year 2008.
• Call upon Congress to fund the 19.1 milion needed for the first year to support the National Library Service's digitization project to convert up-to-date digital technology and thus improve Talking Books services to people with visual or physical disability. (This technology will replace existing cassettes.)
• Urging the passage of the No Child Left Behind SKILLS Act requiring schools to the extent that it is feasible to employ at least on highly qualified school library media specialist.
• Principles of digital content-applying values, intellectual property rights, sustainable collections, collaboration and advocacy to digital materials.
  

Treasurer's Report to Council

Programmatic Priorities:

• Diversity
• Literacy
• Intellectual Freedom
• Equity of Access to Information and Library Services
• Education and Lifelong Learning
• Organizational Excellence
  

Total ALA Revenue:

FY 2007 $47.6 million (budget)

FY 2008 $51.4 million (proposed)

*Publishing brings in 40% of revenues

Request Council Approval:

FY 2008 Budgetary Ceiling $60,530,585

As of Monday ALA Conference Statistics:

21,109 attendees

7119 exhibitors

Council III June 27, 2007

Approved:

• A task force to study e-participation tools for ALA Council.
• Catholic Library Association affiliate status with ALA.
• Position of names on ballots shall be randomized.

Discussion:

Comprehensive Bylaws Review-Council Feedback via listserv requested to entertain the following:

What is the appropriate size and composition of Council?

What is the appropriate division of responsibility between Council and the Executive Board?

What is the appropriate term length for ALA President?

What is the appropriate appointment mechanism for committees?

What is the appropriate role of term limits?

International Relations Committee Report-Attendance at conference included 450 international colleagues from 87 countries.

ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee Report-Resolution regarding condemnation of the use of National Security letters to obtain library records was proposed and passed.

Policy Monitoring Committee

Added to ALA Policy Manual:

Support of Immigrant Rights 52.4.4

ALA strongly supports the protection of each person's civil liberties, regardless of that individual's nationality, residency, or status; and that ALA opposes any legislation that infringes on the rights of anyone in the USA or its territories, citizens or otherwise, to use library resources, programs, and services on national, state, and local levels.

Role of Libraries in Providing E-government and Emergency Services 50.16

The ALA urges governments at all levels to acknowledge and support the essential role local libraries play in providing e-government and emergency response/recovery services, and to include libraries in relevant legislative or other policy actions. The ALA also encourages continued research documenting library needs and capacity to provide effective e-government and emergency response/recovery services, and help libraries develop best practices and train staff to deliver these essential services.

ALSC Response to 2007 Midwinter ALA CD#36 Affiliation with Boy Scouts

Representative of ALSC indicated that the Boy Scouts of American are not listed as an affiliate on their web site. There was no further discussion.

Accessible Digitization Projects Resolution

Resolved that the American Library Association strongly encourages all libraries [and other entities] engaging in digitization projects to adopt Section 508 regulations to ensure that they are creating versions of materials that are accessible to persons using screen-reader or other assistive technologies.

Resolved that the ALA forward this resolution to other agencies and organizations that help libraries digitize their materials [and that design access software], such as the Institute of Museum and Library Services and state library agencies, and to companies that work with libraries doing digitization projects.

Resolution on Representation

A resolution on Representation came forward from AASL Division Councilor, Sylvia Norton. It asks the Committee on Committees to clarify the processes of selecting committee members. This was passed.

Note: This resolution is in response to perceptions that the ability to become involved in ALA Committees is limited and that representation is not balanced in regard to types of libaries/librarians.

Final count of attendance 21,466

Final County of vendors 7169

ULA President's Report on ALA Annual 2007
My experience at ALA
Dorothy Horan, ULA President

The 2007 American Library Association Conference was held in Washington D.C this year. The program included tours, various association meetings and programs with topics ranging from diversity to metadata and open source patron catalogs.

Utah Library Association-related meetings: I attended the ALA Chapter Officer Training Session and the Chapter Relations Committee Meetings on behalf of the Utah Library Association. The training sessions stressed financial dealings and the management of associations. I also learned more about how various associations utilize professional executive officers. Here’s a picture of me in one of the CRC meetings. I’m looking at the photographer like he’s one of my teenagers coming home after their curfew, I believe that mentally I was berating myself for not bringing a camera to the meeting myself.

Presentations:
I didn’t get to attend many presentations because of the meetings, but here are short reports on two of them. The ALA website has blog entries and some presentations from the conference. There are also pictures posted on FLCKR, which is where the above picture was found.

Ambient Findability: Librarians, Libraries, and the Internet of Things
The presentation was given by Peter Morville, the author of the book with the above title. I didn’t realize that Peter was a librarian. As such, he is current with library issues. He peppered us with quotes, examples and suggestions. My favorites are:
Ambient findability: the ability to find anyone or anything from anywhere at any time.
Information that’s hard to find will remain information that’s hardly found.
He presented a honeycomb matrix encompassing the words useful, desirable, accessible, credible, findable, usable and valuable that suggests how the words interact.
We should ask ourselves questions about how findable our material is, such as:
Can our users find our website?
Can our users find their way around our website?
Can our users find info on our site despite our website?
I learned more about new gadgets such as the iPhone, (gosh, that’s old news now), and websites such as Neighboroo.

Top Technology Trends:
This is always a popular program with prominent techie presenters. This year it was so popular that the attendees at the back of the room couldn’t hear much, and much shushing took place. Apparently librarians are pretty good at that skill, despite our best efforts to convince the world otherwise. I’ve been reading ALA blogs to supplement my own notes. This session was also podcast in several sessions on the LITAblog. Some of the trends mentioned were: open source catalog systems, better front ends for systems, vendor interoperability, end user as content contributor, (one of the comments was that users are creating content, but there is not guarantee that user-generated material will be maintained where it is currently stored), library as publisher, end user focused technology, and self organizing systems.

Exhibits:
ALA’s exhibits are always a wonder. I spent some time in the exhibit hall talking to publishers and vendors about the 2008 joint ULA-MPLA library association in Salt Lake City. I was also able to view several demonstrations of catalog and other products from vendors. I’ve included a picture of the exhibit area and an example of what can happen if you linger at a booth featuring authors autographing their books. At least my grandchildren got a kick out of the book and picture.

On the last day ALA representatives visited Capitol Hill to contact legislators about library issues. The Utah Library Association representatives were Donna Jones Morris of the Utah State Library and Linda Tillson the ALA representative for ULA and Head of the Park City Library.

The library world is in a state of flow right now. ALA is striving to retain their place as creator of library standards, and has commissioned several task forces or committees dealing with digital and other format cataloging. Participating in ALA sessions will help us to learn how the library community is thinking and dealing with issues. Anaheim is close, so please consider putting that trip into your budgets!

Summary of ALA 2007 Midwinter in Seattle

The total registration affirmed the popularity of Seattle as a venue for Mid Winter. The conference had reached 12,196 by Monday, January 22 – well ahead of the 11,084 recorded for Mid Winter 2006 in San Antonio, but much lower than the 13,232 for Mid Winter 2005 in Boston. The close proximity of Boston to cities like New York, Newark and Philadelphia undoubtedly had an impact on attendance.

ALA Council I (January 21, 2007)
Among the highlights of this first group of informational sessions for Councilors was a very positive budget assessment by Patty Wong (Chair of BARC – Budge Analysis and Review Committee). Total revenue for the Association proved to be almost $1 million over budget projections with a budgetary ceiling of $56,540,976 for fiscal year 2007. The Endowment Fund report presented by Chair Robert Newlen was equally impressive with a gain from a market value of $25,454,000 in 2005 to $29,028,000 in 2006. Although the Socially Responsible Investment fund (Ariel Capital Appreciation) lagged somewhat behind the benchmark standards, the Fund Managers appear to be committed to maintaining that investment option and thereby addressing the legitimate concerns of many members. The ALA elections for 2007 will take place from March 15 to April 24 with final returns expected on May 1.

ALA-APA COUNCIL A nonbinding resolution on the endorsement of a minimum salary of $40,000 for professional librarians was passed unanimously at this session. APA currently has budget deficit of $39,552 for FY 2006 which made the ending net assets of APA a negative $235,044. The overall income of the APA was 68% higher than the previous year and repayment of the initial loan of $250,000 loan from ALA will begin in FY 2009. It is hoped that the ALA-APA will turn the corner and become self sustaining within the next few years. In the Treasurer’s Report for ALA-APA delivered to Council on January 21, two of the weaknesses noted about the ALA-APA were low awareness among ALA members and confusion about relationship with ALA

ALA Council II (January 23, 2007)
As spokesperson for the Policy Monitoring Committee, Diane Dates Casey (ALCTS Councilor) presented several changes in the association bylaws to conform to past actions by Council. These were passed unanimously.The Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC) was granted an extension of six months to study the ramifications of establishing a graduated dues structure for ALA (a dues structure similar to that of MPLA requiring members earning more to pay higher dues). The ALA Treasurer’s Report and programmatic priorities were presented by Treasurer Teri Switzer. ALA is building a very solid reserve and the growth in revenue has been on the upswing. Annual dues revenue has increased from about $5 million in 1995 to $8 million in 2006. During the 26 years from 1980 to 2006, the total net asset balance for ALA has grown from $4,728,000 to $30,812,000. Total membership in ALA has risen from 35,433 in 1980 to 64,689 in 2006. --John W. Berry highlighted the many important actions of the Freedom to Read Foundation over the past year to protect privacy rights and intellectual freedom. He urged continued support of the Foundation (http://www.ftrf.org/ with an on-line donation form). --Three resolutions were brought forward and debated for nearly two hours. Two of them were defeated by a very large majority vote of Council: “Resolution to Advocate Ending Funding for the Iraq War” and “Resolution on Impeachment of President George W. Bush”. A third Resolution called for ALA to “suspend all affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America National Council until such time as the Boy Scouts of America ends its exclusionary policy on the basis of a person’s religious beliefs or sexual orientation…” Gays and atheists are currently prevented from joining BSA. This resolution was referred to ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) for clarification on that division’s position on this issue. --- There was much sentiment on the part of Councilors during this session to reject resolutions that were not precisely related to Library issues, i.e., intellectual freedom, privacy rights, funding for libraries, preventing access to information, etc… The tendency of some on Council (particularly from the Social Responsibilities Round Table) to involve Council in broader social and political agendas was met with strong resistance.


ALA Council III (January 24, 2007)
At the start of this session, former ALA president, Michael Gorman, was honored by the California Library Association and by the Council for his long service to the profession and congratulated upon his recent retirement. Councilors Larry Romans and Charles E. Kratz, Jr. were elected to serve for three year terms (2007-2010) on the Executive Board of ALA. -- The Committee on Organization (COO) included a preliminary report from the Subcommittee on E-Participation exploring the possibilities and implications of full electronic participation on committees and decision making bodies. An E-Participation Task Force being chaired by Jim Rettig will prepare a draft report to be shared with Council at the ALA annual conference in Washington D.C. (June 2007). --- Committee on Legislation introduced several “action items” to Council: A resolution passed encouraging Congress to “amend the Copyright Act to facilitate the use of ‘orphan works’ if the user has made a reasonably diligent, good faith search to locate the owner of the work, but was unable to find the owner.” Also passed was a Resolution in Support of Immigrant Rights: “Resolved, that ALA strongly supports the protection of each person’s civil liberties regardless of that individual’s nationality, residency, or status; and be it further resolved that ALA opposes any legislation that infringes on the rights of anyone in the USA (citizens or otherwise) to use library resources on national, state, and local levels.” Approved was a “Resolution Affirming the Role of Libraries in Providing E-Government and Emergency Services.” [A resolution empowering the Executive Director to make grammatical and punctuation corrections on resolutions was passed unanimously.] --- The International Relations Committee presented an action item calling for the appointment of an ALA representative to serve on the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield (USCBS). Council passed this measure. The USCBS was established in January 2006 with the mission of urging the protection of cultural property during armed conflict. ---- “Accessible Digitization Projects Resolution” was brought before Council “that the ALA strongly encourages all libraries engaging in digitization projects to create versions of all materials that are accessible to persons using screen-reader or other assistive technologies, based on Section 508.” [Council favored the spirit behind this resolution. However, it was referred to the ASCLA for clarification and more specific direction for Council at ALA Annual. ASCLA = Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies.]

Copies of the final wording of all resolutions an action items from Council Sessions will be posted and available on the ALA Web Site http://www.ala.org in several weeks.

Special thanks to Shelley Walchuk, ALA Colorado Chapter Councilor, for providing me with a crash course in setting up a blogging page, and to James Casey for sharing his succinct report, which most of the notes above originated from.