[Publib] New Orleans ALA

[James Casey]

Part II --- James B. Casey Notes on ALA New Orleans.

 

 

OPENING GENERAL SESSION:  Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright
addressed the Opening General Session.  Among other remarks (most of
which earned applause), she took ALA to task for being insufficiently
harsh in its criticism of the Castro regime.   Those of us on ALA
Council who felt that the resolutions passed in 2003 had been
responsibly critical of the abuses of freedom by the Castro regime -
albeit not accepting all of the definitions and strident jargon demanded
by the most extreme anti-Castro organizations - may be amused that
Secretary Albright is using the same "soft on Castro" accusation to
childe ALA that had been employed against her in 2000 during the Ilian
Gonzales controversy in Florida.  ALA's careful and deliberative
assessment of this issue of intellectual freedom in Cuba didn't neglect
the inconvenient fact that the ardent "freedom fighters" of one year can
easily become the dictators of the next.  The Ayatolla and Castro were
declared freedom fighters who claimed much support from Americans before
they replaced the oppressive regimes of the Shah and Batista with more
extreme dictatorships of their own.  That ALA refused to embrace the
self-righteous bravado of either side among the extremist elements in
the Cuba controversy is much to its credit.  Secretary Albright may have
lingered too long in the world of politically expedient "sound bites" to
appreciate the efforts of ALA Committees in addressing complex issues
with measured and precise language.  

 

ALA COUNCIL/EXECUTIVE BOARD/MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION SESSION

provided much information including a review of the Association's budget
and long term investment situation.  Both looked quite good and the
Endowment Trustees were able to present fantastic results with the Fund
increasing its portfolio value from $11,619,997 in 2002 to $25,212,173
in 2005.  Fees for investment advisors were also reduced as a result of
some changes in a new contractual fee structure following an RFP
(Request for Proposals) process in 2003.  Although the dues increase
passed successfully in Spring 2006, additional funds available to the
Association will only gradually increase by 2010 to account for a total
of some $1.2 million.  Executive Director Fiels indicated that the
Association should be cautious in expending the new revenue derived from
the dues increase.  (I had also heard - not at this meeting - that the
low attendance expected for this Annual Conference may not result in
significant losses in revenue by the Association due to earlier
negotiations with New Orleans officials.)

 

While ALA fund balances look strong and getting stronger, the APA
situation remains in deficit territory both in terms of dollars and
credibility.  Stated revenue expectations --- especially $115,000 for
sale of statistical reports such as their new salary survey publications
and $20,000 in grant award income when applications have not yet been
submitted --- seem to be outrageously optimistic to many of us.  Only 27
Members of ALA Council (myself included) out of some 170 have made
financial contributions to the APA.  Projections one year ago had
$36,500 in revenue expectations from donations.  The actual revenue from
donations proved to be only $17,466 in FY 2006.  Yet, the revenue
expectation in donations for FY 2007 is stated to be $46,000.  Several
councilors - including a former ALA Treasurer - have misgivings about
such unrealistic revenue projections. --- The name of APA will remain
ALA-APA, but be called (in a kind of subtitle) "Organization for the
Advancement of Library Employees".   The name is still a "mouthful" and
I doubt that it will resonate with potential donors and/or those seeking
certification credentials.   Whatever it is called, the organization is
hardly known outside of Council Chambers.   How it can secure
significant donations and enrollment in its certification programs
without a creditable profile in the profession is beyond my
understanding.  

 

COUNCIL I:   This brief session saw some quickly delivered reports an
one resolution referred to Committee on Legislation.  The largest
discussion was brought about by challenges from Councilors for a more
transparent and understandable system for choosing keynote and featured
speakers for ALA Annual and MidWinter.  Given that the guidelines are
not yet finalized, much of the discussion was premature, but stimulated
in all probability by the unexpected departures of speakers like
Codrescu and Albright from their stated topics.

 

It was announced that ALA Membership has reached a total of 66,382 and
is 2.3% higher than in 2005. 

 

ALA/APA COUNCIL (Monday, June 26, 2006):  This session featured further
and more detailed financial reports and budgetary projections for the FY
2007.  I was among a minority voting against approval of a $318,875
budgetary ceiling for FY 2007.  Although a just a bit of fiduciary
housekeeping in normal times, several of us refused to acknowledge
fiscal projections we consider to be totally unrealistic. Approved by a
small majority was a "Resolution On Support For Freedom To Form Unions:
The Employee Free Choice Act."  Rejected by a large majority was a
poorly worded resolution "Support For Overtime Pay Protections."  Most
of the objections from Council to these resolutions were based upon
their lack of clarity and lack of prior review by the ALA Committee on
Legislation.  (APA is an organization purportedly separate from ALA and
does not, therefore, have its own Committee on Legislation.  It was also
pointed out that the ALA Washington Office might not be able to lobby on
behalf of APA approved positions without charging APA for the services.)

 

OCLC PRESIDENT'S LUNCHEON:  Diane and I attended and heard a series of
reports.  One major event affecting the future of Libraries is the
merger of OCLC

(Online Computer Library Center, Inc.) with RLG (Research Libraries
Group) effective July 1, 2006.  The RLG - an organization of museums,
archives and universities - shall remain intact for the time being, but
combine resources and governing systems with the larger OCLC.
http://www.rlg.org/index.php 

 

COUNCIL FORUM I:  During Monday evening, some preliminary discussion of
Council Resolutions being prepared for Council II and III gave about 35
Councilors the chance to air concerns.  One resolution focuses on the
crisis in Darfur (western Sudan) and the need for making the public
aware a genocide crisis that has been largely ignored by the media.
Another advocates for Net Neutrality of and opposes efforts in the U.S.
Senate to impose Broadcast Flag 

regulations and fees to restrict information sharing and exchange.
http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/466

 

 

 

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Ruth Hayden
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 12:24 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] New Orleans ALA

 

I wasn't able to attend ALA and would be very interested to see postings
about experiences, speakers, booths, meetings and seminars. Did the
Publibbers find a good place to gab and relax? If you have thoughts
you'd like to share, I'd love to listen.

 

Ruth Hayden

Technical Services Librarian

Smyrna Public Library

Smyrna, GA 30080

rhayden at ci.smyrna.ga.us

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