Information Session
ALA net revenue for Fiscal Year 2007 was $840,201. The Graduated Dues Structure Task Force reported on estimated fees for a comprehensive research study and implementation costs. In its entirety the cost would be approximately $624,000.
Discussion regarding the ability of divisions, sections and roundtables to endorse candidates for executive board.
Questions from councilors about whether this is a new policy were raised. Keith Michael Fiels indicated that this policy is not new but has been in place for over a decade.
Resolution on Member Access to Electronic Lists
Whereas, read-only access to the Association’s electronic Council list by non-council members has been shown to allow member participiation without negative impact upon the business of the Association,
Therefore, be it resolved that this resolution shall be implemented on ALA servers as soon as the ALA Executive Director deems it feasible.
Referred to task force due to complexities.
1/14/08 ALA-APA Council
Treasurer’s Report
APA is up-to-date in their repayment schedule of the $250,000 loan from ALA to start the organization.
Certified Public Administrator Program
First person has completed the program
59 candidates have completed one course
96 candidates are actively enrolled
Executive Board Candidates Forum
Thomas Wilding Professor, SIRLS-Tucson, AZ
Francis R. Roscello, School Library Media Program Coordinator, NY
X Em Claire Knowles, Professor, Simmons Graduate School of Lib. and Info. Science
Dora T. Ho, Young Adult Librarian, Los Angeles Public Library
Pamela C Sieving, Informationist-Medical Librarian
X Diane R. Chen, School Library Information Specialist Nashville, TN
X Joseph Eagan, Maryland Chapter Councilor
X=elected by Council as reported 1/16/08
Council Forum
Code of Ethics revisions/updates
Discussion centered on whether to include "fair use and public domain" be included in the following statement: "We recognize and respect intellectual property rights and advocate balance between the interests of information users and rights holders and support fair use and public domain."
Provision of accessible internet access computers at ALA events
A blind conference attendee was not able to use the computers at the internet cafe. ALA staff made arrangements for this individual, however, some Council members would like to address this issue via a resolution which would ensure accessible computers for the disabled are set up in advance thus eliminating the need for a special request to be made.
Revisions to update language for LIS Accreditation Standards
Question of whether Council should update language now or wait until task force on accreditation has completed their work in revising standards was discussed. Some argued that waiting for task force recommendations will take too long and proposed changes only update out-of-date buzz phrases in education. Others say changes are substantive and that the task force will be ready with a recommendation soon.
1/15/08 Council II
Freedom To Read Foundation Report
Reported on various challenges around the country including the King's English vs. Shurtleff lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Utah's expanded "harmless to minors" statute. FTRF reports that the statute has an astounding reach; not only criminalizing constitutionally protected Internet content, but giving the state's attorney general authority to designnate a website to be "harmful to minors" without judicial review. In the spring of 2007, the State of Utah filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit asserting that the FTRF and its co-plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the law. On November 20, 2007 the court denied the State's motion to dismiss the lawsuit ruling that FTRF could continue to represent the first amendment interests of Internet users across the country.
Campaign Guidelines
Some council members argue that roundtables, sections, divisions, etc. should be able to endorse a particular candidate though current policy does not allow this. The policy has been in place for 15 years but has not been necessarily been the practice of groups.
Moved that the executive board revisit the campaigning guidelines/policy and report back to Council at Annual Conference 2008.
Amendment by substitution (1):
Except for members of the ALA Executive Board individuals who are elected officers or committee chairs of the Association and its units may personally endorse candidates. DEFEATED
Proposed Change to Time of Council Meetings
Move that the scheduling of ALA Council sessions end on Tuesday as the last Council meeting beginning at Midwinter 2009. No action taken until implications have been studied.
1/16/08 Council III
Treasurer's Report
General fund net revenue is down from $624,000 in 2006 to $472,000 in 2007. Total member ship in 2006 was 64,689. Total membership for 2007 was 64,729.
Committee on Status on Women in Librarianship
Resolution in support of women as caregivers in the workforce (CD#41). Suggestion to add men who are caregivers was made. Resolution passed as written.
Committee on Organization
Any candidate for an elected or appointed position within ALA shall refrain from any committee or board activity that could advance or appear to advance his or her candidacy. Did not pass. Council stated concerns with vagueness of language.
CD#25 Constitution and Bylaws Report
Affiliate status for the Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials (SALALM). Resolution passed.
Affiliate status for the On-line Audiovisual Catlogers (OLAC). Resolution passed.
President-Elect vacancy-Allows the Executive Board to appoint an individual if an unexpected
vacancy occurs. This appointment is subject to Council approval and will serve in an "acting" capacity until confirmation by Council occurs. Resolution passed.
Treasurer Vacancy-Allows the Executive Board to appoint an interim treasurer if necessary subject to a confirmation mail vote by Council. Position will be filled by regular election at the next election unless the regular election is less than four months away.
Committee on Legislation
Resolution on…….
CD#20.1 Government Printing Office FY 2009 Appropriations
CD#20.2 Tribal College Library Membership in the Federal Depository Library Program
CD#20.3 Safeguarding Electronic Government Info.and E-government in times of disaster
CD#20.4 Opposing Postal Rate Increases for Small Circulation Publications
CD#20.5 Acknowledging Bassem Youssef (FBI whistleblower) regarding abuses of National Security Letters.
CD#20.6 Full Funding of the Federal Digital System
SRRT Resolution on the Crisis in Kenya
Passed with a vote of 67 to 65.
Resolution on the Confiscation of Iraqi Documents from the Iraq National Library Archives (CD #44)
Resolved that ALA condemns the confiscation of documents from the Iraq National Library and Archive by the United States and British forces and strongly advocates the immediate return of all documents, and, be it further resolved, that ALA calls for the United States Government to honor the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Second Protocol. Passed.
Midwinter attendance as reported by Keith Michael Fiels-13,601 PHL--up from 12,230 in Seattle January 2007.
