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
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