[Publib] RE: COSWL on Alito--Reality Check

[Lise Chlebanowski]

Well stated! Thanks for all of your hard work on our behalf.

 

Lisë Chlebanowski

Library Manager

Avondale Public Library

(623) 478-3105

lchlebanowski at avondale.org

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." 

Groucho Marx <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Groucho_Marx/> 

 

 

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Backwage at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 9:20 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] RE: COSWL on Alito--Reality Check

 

I hear quite often that ALA's positions do not reflect the will or desires of this or that segment of the larger library community.  This invariably occurs after an action by ALA Council which someone finds to be out of line with their own beliefs.

 

Let me say a few things here, as a Councilor at large and as a member.  First, I go out of my way to ask members what they want and expect of a Councilor.  I talk to as many library workers as I can in my travels; I maintain a weblog and accept comments; I pay attention to the various library listservs and I do my own research on issues, even to the point of writing articles for publication.  Overall I find that my constituency, such as I have known it, do not provide very much guidance in these matters.  At yesterday's session of Council the audience consisted (apart from Councilors and ALA officials) of Michael Gorman's wife and one other person.  The membership meetings are attended so poorly as to generally lack a quorum.  Not a lot of people want to run for Council, either.  

 

I do not take issue with anyone who says that Council or ALA does not support their particular viewpoint.  Indeed, I very much wish that there were more of that sort of ruckus.  On the other hand, it makes me rather tired to get second-guessed by folks whose appearance on the scene invariably occurs after the close of business.  Either by choice or default, you folks elected me.  I would suggest that if you want alternative positions to be aired upon the floor of Council (or APA Council), that you register your desires before the opening gavel.  Even if I do not support a particular viewpoint, I will be happy to inform my fellow Councilors about it, and certainly to take it into consideration.  

 

Or consider joining us at Council.  That way you can do what I do:  spend about 1,500 dollars in American money for a five-day junket to some semi-tropical place (in summer) or the nearly arctic (in winter) so that you can go to interminable meetings to hammer out issues before heading for a quick drink at a hotel bar and then a novel, if you've brought one.  When you get home you can read about how you failed the organization from somebody who is proud to announce he hasn't been a member in years.  But then there is all that glory and recognition arising from the position, including the admiration of colleagues.  I will let you know when I get some colleagues.  Right now I'm trying to get my first librarian job, with rather poor results.  My constituents' gratitude does not extend to offers of employment.  

 

What I do see, if only in passing, are the crowds of folks at the exhibits.  The exhibits are colorful, interesting, exciting.  And they give away stuff.  Maybe if we gave away little stuffed animals or signed copies of children's books, the crowds would flock to Council meetings.  Or perhaps not.  

 

At any rate, I've said it before and here it is yet again:  Let me know what you want.  Put together a petition.  Write me a note.  Influence my decisions and votes.  Only don't tell me what a lousy job I'm doing on the day after.  That doesn't do either of us any good at all.

 

Michael McGrorty

Councilor at large

www.librarydust.com 

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