ALA Annual 2009-Chicago

ALA-APA Information Session Sunday, July 12, 2009
Jim Rettig mentioned that in his meetings with groups only a small number had heard of APA. He thinks the organization has a perception/recognition problem and encouraged Councilors to spread the word about APA and their activities.

ALA Council I Sunday, July 12,2009
Committee on Committees & Planning & Budget Assembly-Camilia A. Alire
Nominations were submitted for each of these committees. Several more were made from the floor for the Committee on Committees.

ALA President's ReportReport was submitted. Of note Jim Rettig mentioned taking part in President Obama's "United We Serve" initiative by participating in an event at the Fanwood Memorial Library in Fanwood, NJ.

ALA President Elect's ReportPresidential Initiave-Front line advocacy. Concentrating on rank and file library staff. Also focusing on advocacy for literacy. She also mentioned a fundraising initiative.

ALA Executive Director's Report-Keith Michael Fiels

ALA has received a $2 million, three-year grant extension from Gates Foundation to continue the Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study.

To view full reports from President, President-Elect and Executive Director of ALA see http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/governance/council/index.cfm

Council Transparency-Keith Michael Fiels


Cost of Council meetings is currently $40,000. Live audio streaming would be an additional $11,000 per year. Live video streaming would be $55,000. The cost to enable e-participation and voting along with video streaming is $144,000. It is very expensive to broadcast from a convention center. Legal liability is also a consideration.

ALA-APA Council Monday, July 13,2009

Three main areas of focus:

1. National certification for library workers-Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) and lib support staff certification (in development)

2. Advocates for salaries and trainings for library workers

3. Reports reports and analyses including the Librarian Salary Survey, Non-MLS Salary Survey, and Library Salary Database.

May 31, 2009 Financials:

Revenues: $118,418

Expenses: $137,647

Note: The ALA-APA Cannot charge dues. Payment on loan from ALA is included in expenses.

Treasurer requested Council approval of budgetary ceiling of $182,326. No discussion. Approved.

Resolution on Support for Overtime Pay Protection1.Urges the President of the United States and the Department of Labor to revise or withdraw wage and hour regulations insofar as they exclude workers from overtime pay protections and to retain the proposed regulations to the extent that they expand the categories of protected workers;

2. Urges the U.S. Congress to continue to protect the integrity of the FLSA, and thus wages, hours and living standards for U.S. workers.

3. Encourages other professional associations and societies representing library workers in the U.S. by speaking out in favor of expanding overtime pay protections for low-wage workers, and actively enforcing those existing regulations for already covered workers; and

4. Sends copies of this policy statement to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Labor, and every member of Congress and to publicize it through print, online and other media of the Association.

After considerable discussion the resolution was referred to a special session to be held on July 15, 2009 where it will be presented with revisions.

Council II-Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Policy Monitoring Committee Report (CD #17.1)
Janet Swan Hill presented recommendations for updates and revisions for the Policy Monitoring Committee. All recommendations were passed. She urged Council members to review item 21 regarding interns as it will be reviewed in the near future.

ALA Membership Committee Report (CD #44 revised)
It is recommended that the current levels of organizational dues be increased over two membership years to provide 1) a positive financial impact against association operating expenses, and 2) pricing commensurate with access and benefits across member types while offsetting some impact to budgets at member institutions. Dues would be increased an average of 28% each year for two years across all 5 categories, as well as in the "other" designation for chapters and affiliates, and for state libraries.
Note: Organizational dues rates have not been adjusted since FY2000 and some organizational members now pay a lower rate than personal members.

Committee on Professional Ethics Report
Nancy Zimmerman, Chair, presented report CD#41.3 Enforcement of the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association and described the Ethics of Education Initiative. She presented a resolution which acknowledges the importance of ethics education and resolves that the ALA Council accepts the recommendation of ALA Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE) to contract with the Institute for Global Ethics to offer the Ethical Fitness Seminar developed to further ethics education for ALA members. The first resolve recognizing the importance of ethics education passed. The second and third resolves which named a specific contractor (Institute for Global Ethics) for the training did not pass.

Freedom to Read Foundation-Judith Platt
The Foundation has created the Judith Krug Memorial Fund for those who wish to sustain Judith's work and legacy. Donations to the fund may be made online at http://www.ftrf.org/ or sent to FTRF, 50 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611.
The Obama Administration decided not to appeal a ruling by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that places limits on the government's ability to impose a gag order when it uses National Security Letters (NSL's) which renders the Second Circuit ruling final. The appellate court held the NSL statute unconstitutional to the extent that it imposes a gag order on NSL recipients without placing on the government the burden of obtaining judicial review of the gag order, and overturned the statutory requirement that courts treat as conclusive any by the government that a gag order is necessary.

ALA Treasurer's Report

FY 2009 General Fund Projections

Revenue: Budget $30,064,000, Projection $27,270,000Expenses: Budget $30,064,000, Projection $28,894,000

Projected Shortfall $1,624,000



9.6 FTE's have been eliminated from ALA staff and furloughs have been taken. ALA membership is down 2.6%. Membership is approximately 65,500.



Resolution on Civil Marriage Equality Regardless of Sexual Orientation


That the American Library Association affirms that civil marriage and other civil rights protections are essential to making all families safer and more secure. Opposes civil marriage discrimination in the federal or in state constitutions. Supports the right of every person to marry, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples, wherever they reside. Resolution passed.



Resolution on Libraries and the Continuing Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan


1. Reiterates its call for the ending of the occupation of Iraq and the withdrawal of all U.S. troops.


2. Calls for the withdrawal from Afghanistan of all U.S. military forces, and the return of full sovereignty to the people of Afghanistan.


3. Urges the US government to shift its budgetary priorities from both wars to an improvement in support for vital domestic programs, including United States libraries.


4. Calls upon the United States government to provide material assistance through the United Nations for the reconstruction of both Iraq and Afghanistan, including its museums, libraries, schools, and other cultural resources.


5. Sends this resolution to all members of Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the President of the United States, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and the press.

Council III-Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Resolution on Support for Overtime Pay Protection
Resolution was reconsidered with revisions based upon earlier comments. Passed.

Constitution & Bylaws Committee-Tom Wilding
Bylaw revisions clarified voting rules regarding voting by mail, electronic system or conference call. Items proposed were approved.

Committee on Legislation-Bernie Margolis

Proposed convening an ALA wide representative group to continue to assess the proposed Google Book Search Settlement and its ongoing impact on ALA members and member institutions and to make recommendations for action by the Association and its members.

Several resolutions in support of GPO and paper records were also proposed and approved.

With CD#20.8 (Committee on Legislation), ALA asks that Congress include in the reauthorization of Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act a list of outlined provisions. CD#19.9 (Intellectual Freedom Committee) proposes that ALA endorses the complete sunset of Section 215. CD#19.9 was approved. CD#20.8 was changed from a resolution to "Advice to Washington Office" and as such was approved.



In addition to CD#19.9 all of the Intellectual Freedom Committee's resolutions were approved.



Committee on Organization-Proposed that the Continuing Library Education & Networking Exchange Round Table's name be changed to Learning Round Table (Learn). Approved.

Intergeneration Day Means Libraries-Resolution promoting Sunday, October 4, 2009 as Intergeneration Day Means Libraries passed.

Proposal for Single Payer Universal Healthcare-Resolution was amended with single-payer being one option of universal healthcare urged and supported by ALA and send a copy of the resolutin to all U.S. Senators & Representatives.

Action Plan to Remedy Current Library Budget Crisis

RESOLVED, that the American Library Association:
Immediately address the severe national erosion of budgetary support to all libraries with deliberate, concerted and unyielding effort by developing and instituting a critical crisis management approach to remedy library budgetary losses through the creation of an action plan to alert legislators, stake holders, and constituents to action through all media and interpersonal channels available.

Communicate to the President of the U.S., all members of Congress and all state governors that during tough economic times when people more than ever need the resources available in American libraries that those libraries more than ever need continued and increased government support.

Resolution to Expand Electronic Participation-There was further discussion regarding whether Council deliberations should be streamed in the form of audio and/or video format. This discussion was continued from Council I. Passed. Audio recordings of Council meetings will be made available at Midwinter 2010.

Total Conference Attendance:

28,941

ALA Midwinter Meeting-Denver 2009

ALA Council/Exec. Board/Membership Information Session



Sunday, January 25, 2009



Budget Analyisis & Review Committee (BARC) Report CD #33
Revenues
2008 $57,799,373
2007 $48,419,344

Three Month Highlights
Total ALA Revenue - $11.1 million
Total ALA Expenses – 12.6 million
ALA Net Revenue - $-1.5 million (This is the typical revenue/expense net pattern for this time period)
Cash & Investments - $19.3 million
Endowment Fund - $22.6 million
Down from $31.3 million (27.7%)
General stock market down 38.5%
General Fund Revenue $4.8 million
General Fund Expenses:
Less than budget by $658,210 (-9.7%)
More than the same time FY07 by $30,235 (0.5%)
Annual Conference expenses are under budget by $111,850 (-53.1%)
Midwinter meeting expenses are under budget by $103,525 (-31.6%)
Professional services are over budget by $190,794
Salary saving for the period total $480,312, which compares to savings (attrition) budgeted at $156,694




Endowment Trustees Report to Council CD #16.0



For the twelve months ended 12-31-08 the value in the ALA Endowment fund declined by $7.8 million from $31.2 million to $23.4 million. An switch to investing some funds in covertible bonds to add further diversity to the portfolio was approved in policy by the executive board and approved for implementation by the trustees.




Report of 2009 ALA Nominating Committee CD#21



Slate of candidates for president-elect and councilors-at-large was presented along with a brief description of the committees work and suggestions for future nomination committees.




ALA Presidents Report CD#21



Was presented by President, Jim Rettig. The full report can be found on the ALA web site at
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/governance/council/index.cfm. He also showed a video that has been developed to encourage members to join Council, starring a number of current Council members.



Midwinter Meeting Registration (as of Saturday)-Keith Michael Fiels



7,689 registrants



2,161 exhibitors



9,850 total






ALA-APA Information Session


President Jim Rettig noted that Librarian Salary Survey responses are needed. He also mentioned that National Library Workers Day will be held Tuesday, April 14, 2009. Nancy Bolt discussed the positive response to the Library Support Staff Certification Programs.



ALA Council I


Nominations for the Council Executive Board Election were announced (CD #11). From the floor two additional nominations were made; Ling Hwey Jeng & Marilyn Hinshaw. Both candidates accepted.



Advocacy Committee report was presented by Carol A. Brey-Casiano. (CD#7). The establishment of the new LAC was approved at the 2008 Midwinter Meeting "to support the efforts of advocates for all types of libraries; to develop resources, networks and training materials for advocates at the local, state and national levels with particular emphasis on the grassroots level; to work closely with the Office for Library Advocacy in collaboration with the Public Awareness Committee, the Chapter Relations Committee, the Committee on Legislations, and other ALA offices, divisions, and roundtables as well as external groups to integrate advocacy efforts into the overall planning, priorities and policies of the association; and to cultivate future leadership in order to sustain and enhance the advocacy efforts of the association."



Constitution & Bylaws Committee


The committee proposed changes which remove the specific dues amounts from the bylaws so that the bylaws would not need revision every time a dues category change. The committee also recommended that the various categories of membership listed along with dues information be removed.



Motion to amend was made to change the time for renewing from one to two months due to the impact on international members who cannot utilize credit card renewal. Amendment was approved. Original motion as amended was approved.



Executive Director's Report-Keith Michael Fiels


American Libraries is producing a special "Tough Economy" issue of American Libraries Direct, scheduled to mail January 20.






Tough economy toolkit is available at www.ala.org/tougheconomytoolkit.



ALA and Univision Radio partnered on a PSA campaign to target Latinos. The stations running the ads reach 75% of Latinos in the top 20 Latino markets. Focusing on interpersonal relationships and building trust, the campaign presents the librarian as a trusted provider of information and support, capable of providing access to the wide range of opportunities represented by the local library. The primary message is "Yo te puedo aydar." ("I can help you.")



There was discussion about Council not receiving the Executive Director's Report two weeks in advance of meeting. Bylaws state that this information should be received at least two weeks in advance of meeting.






ALA-APA Council Monday, January 26, 2009



Salary Survey


The ALA Office staff will resume the duty for data collection & research. Initial estimates of the necessary funding and staff needed to complete this task were not accurate and APA realized it does not have the resources necessary to complete this function. Thus, APA will prepare the analysis and publication and pay royalties to ALA for the technical information. Jennifer Grady is going to work for both ALA and APA.







Treasurer's report


Net revenue- $-19,969. Salary surveys didn't get out as planned/on time. Did not realize expected sales.






CPLA-Certified Public Library Administrator Program


Total course enrollment is 557 students, an increase of 46% from the 2008 annual conference. Of this total, 313 of the students or 56% have been CPLA candidates. Numbers are below projections. Comments from participants continue to be positive.






Standing Committee on Salaries & Status of Library Workers


No action items. Will have two at Annual in Chicago--overtime pay protection & an outsourcing resolution.






Council II Tuesday, January 27, 2009






Treasurer's Report (CD#13)-Rod Hersberger



2008



Total-Revenue $57,799,373



General Fund- $28,026,732



Primary revenue sources are: Dues, publishing, meetings & conferences, and grants.






FY 2010 Programmatic Priorities


Diversity, equitable access to information and library services, education & lifelong learning,


intellectual freedom, advocacy for libraries & the profession, literacy and organizational excellence.






Freedom to Read Foundation Report-Judith Platt


Child Online Protection Act (COPA) has been overturned. FTRF filed amicus briefs at each stage of the litigation arguing that COPA placed an unconstitutional burden on protected speech between adults and that filtering technology administered by parents is a more effective, less intrusive way of protecting minors than criminalizing First Amendment-protected speech on the Internet.






Another legal victory involved a decision that places some limits on the government's ability to impose a gag order when it uses National Security Letters to obtain information. It held that the government must show there is a reasonable likelihood of harm or criminal interference, and that the burden of proof is on the government rather than on the individual challenging the gag order. The court recommended that the government put in place a notice procedure that would inform NSL recipients of their right to ask for judicial review.






For further information see ftrf.org






Library Education Task Force Report-Michael Gorman (in place of Carla Hayden)


The group looked at what every librarian should know upon graduating from an ALA accredited program of Library Science. Suggestions have been incorprated in this draft.






ALA's Core Competences of Librarianship

• Foundations of the Profession




• Information Resources




• Organization of Recorded Knowledge and Information




• Technological Knowledge & Skills




• Reference and User Services




• Research




• Continuing Education & Lifelong Learning




• Administration & Management

ALA Council III Wednesday, January 28





Council Tellers Report CD #11.2


The three new ALA Executive Board members elected are Patricia M. Hogan, Stephen L. Matthews and Courtney Young.





ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee Report


The office for Intellectual Freedom is working with ALA Editions toward publication of the 8th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual. Publication is tentatively planned to coincide with the 2010 annual conference.





Revisions to policies on challenged materials, restricted access to library materials, and services to persons with disabilities were proposed and accepted





ALA Committee on Legislation


National Library Legislation Day will be held this year on May 11th and 12th.





Resolution commending Barak Obama for recognizing the importance of openness, transparency, and accountability in government by signing an executive order on presidential records and presidential memorand on the Freedom of Information Act and Transparency and Open Government on his first day in office and looks forward to continuing to work with the Administration to advance public access and the public's right to know. Passed.





Resolution that the ALA urges the United States Congress to reauthorize the Library Services and Technology Act in a timely manner. Passed.





International Relations Committee Report to Council


Proposed resolution calling for "the protection of libraries and archives in Gaza and Israel, and urges the U.S. Government to support the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield in upholding the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict; and calls on the U.S. Government to work for a permanent peace in the region; and transmits this resolution to the U.S. President, Secretary of State, all members of the Congress, the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield, and other appropriate individuals and organizations." Passed with revision of "U.S. Government continue to work for a permanent peace" vs. "U.S. Government to work for a permanent peace."





Committee on Organization


Proposal to change the name of the ALA Library Advocacy Committee (LAC) to ALA Committee on Library Advocacy (COLA). Passed.





The name of the Orientation, Training, and Leadership Development Committee (OTLD) be changed to the Training, Orientation and Leadership Development Committee (TOLD) and the charge be revised as follows; "To plan and coordinate training, orientation, and leadership development for member leaders at all levels across the association; to inventory training and orientation modules in divisions, round tables, and other Association groups; and to coordinate the ALA internship program." Name change and charge were approved.





Council approved the proposal for a new division which combines the current ALA Division, Association for Library Trustees & Advocates (ALTA) and Friends of the Libraries USA (FOLUSA) to be created and named the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF). Council also approved this new division's statement of responsibility which has been approved by the members of ALTA.





Recommendation was made to expand the Committee on Legislation from 10 to 15 members. Approved.





COO also drafted and presented guidelines for assemblies, interest groups, forums and membership initiative groups in their report. CD#27.





ALA Resolutions Committee


The committee changed the language of the guidelines for preparing ALA Membership Resolutions to parallel the ALA resolution process. The proposed changes were approved.





ALA Website Advisory Committee


Motion to apply high priority funding levels to the web site for accessibility review and a web code cleanup project to the public web presence of the American Library Association was proposed. Treasurer suggested that Council not micromanage and allow this proposal to be considered along with other budget requests. Council voted to approve the motion.





Task Force on Electronic Member Participation, CD#35


(continued from Council II)


Concerns were expressed that yesterdays vote on CD #35.4 [Eliminate policy 6.16 (virtual members). In its place, enable appointment of full committee members who may attend meetings virtually only by Jan. 2009] was not completely clear. A motion to reconsider was approved. After considerable discussion and amendments CD #35.4 was approved.





CD # 35.5-Attendance at meetings may be in person or through other means that enable synchronous communication.





In accordance with the recommendation of the parliamentarian, items #35.6-#35.16 will be discussed for a specified amount of time and then referred to Exec. Board for further consideration.


Resolution on Understanding Gaza – One Conference, One Book, One Read presented by Elaine Harger was defeated.



Resolution on Accessible Computer Workstations at ALA Annual Conference and Midwinter Meetings by Melora Ranney Norman passed.



High Speed Internet Wireless Access at Conference Hotels by Ria Newhouse was defeated primarily due to budgetary concerns.


Resolution on Access for Physical Mobility Impaired Conference Attendees

Passed

This resolution was passed to address the issue of people with mobility impairments having to locate and get to the ALA Conference Office. Instead mobility devices will be available in or near the main registration area.



Resolution added the following paragraph to the end of policy #7.1.3, Conference Arrangements for Participants with Disabilities:



"Assistive devices for attendees with physical mobility impairments shall be made available by reservation. Devices not reserved in advance shall be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Using whatever means necessary, these devices shall be located adjacent to the conference center's main entrance or to the primary registration area for pick-up and delivery."



Note: For complete copies of the wording of all resolutions and action items from Council visit the ALA Web Site http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/governance/council/index.cfm



Midwinter Attendance Figures: 7,905 Registrants and 2,315 exhibitors for a total of 10,222.



On a very sad note two librarians from Connecticut who attended ALA Midwinter were killed in an automobile accident when their airport shuttle was struck by another vehicle driven by a suspected drunk driver.