[Publib] ALA Annual Conference 2007 -- Notes (Part II)

Mon Jul 9 09:41:26 EDT 2007

INFORMATION IN THE WORLD OF DIGITAL NATIVES:  The concept of service to
"Digital Natives" was presented by Matthew Hong to an extremely
overcrowded room.  "Digital Immigrants" are those Mr. Hong describes as
persons who grew to adulthood in a pre-digital age, preferring access to
information in a linear manner.  "Digital Natives" are those who have
known nothing but the digital reality and who prefer a multi-tasking
approach where they are the center of the search process and reaching
out to a multiplicity of tools - You Tube, Google, digg, Flickr, Meebo,
Facebook, MySpace, etc.  - simultaneously.  The Digital Immigrant would
use a linear approach directly to the computer and document.  Hong
indicated that 73% of Digital Natives use the Internet more than their
Library.  The Digital Native user is at the center of the search process
employing personalization, expression and collaboration.  The web site
of Thomas Ford Memorial Library ( http://www.fordlibrary.org/ ) was
noted as a prime example of a location designed for Digital Natives.
"To succeed with Web 2.0, you must immerse yourself in the culture of
the Digital Native."

ALAWO BREAKOUT SESSON - PARTICIPATORY NETWORKS: LIBRARIES AS
CONVERSATION.  This presentation was by a series of enthusiastic
speakers who emphasized the importance of using tools such as "Second
Life"  http://www.secondlife.com <http://www.secondlife.com/>  for the
staging of virtual communities populated by "avatars" who serve as
animated representatives for actual persons and who can interact with
other similar "avatars" in a multitude of settings.  For what may seem
to many of us "old timers" to be some kind of quasi-insane world of
fantasy enactment, there are learned adults who believe that such
created fantasy worlds can serve as the virtual location for meetings,
classes, and library programs where serious work and distance learning
projects can be accomplished.  Kitty Phillip, Executive Director of the
large and complex Alliance Library System in Illinois pursues this
process actively.  On her business card is a picture of her "avatar"
character and invitation to "ALS Info Island" to which it is claimed
that 5,000 visitors come every day.  In Addition to Ms. Phillip, Jenny
Levine of ALA, David Lankes of Syracuse University and Eli Neiberger of
Ann Arbor Public Library http://www.aadl.org <http://www.aadl.org/>
expressed support for this "Second Life" concept of gaming and virtual
interaction.  Alliance Library System -
http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com
<http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/>   --This program was
enlightening and in our world of the emerging "Digital Native" patron
populations, we will need to consider such alternative approaches with
seriousness.  --- Jenny Levine indicated that a symposium on gaming in
libraries would be held in Chicago on July 22-24.
http://www.gamingandlibraries.org <http://www.gamingandlibraries.org/>  

THE ULTIMATE DEBATE: DO LIBRARIES INNOVATE?  This program included
vigorous opinions expressed by such distinguished figures as Stephen
Abram of SirsiDynix, Joseph Janes of the University of Washington and
the widely known and respected Karen Schneider.  None of these
commentators had a high level of respect for the innovation going on in
Libraries.  The seemed to agree that Libraries move too slowly and
cautiously, are not tough enough to accept the criticism that goes with
innovative ventures, and that it is the people (few of them) who
actually press forward with innovation while the library institutions
tend to be mired in a fear of failure.  Karen added that ALA itself has
been resistant to innovation when it comes to e-participation and using
technology in a more creative manner.  

MEMBERSHIP MEETING I:  ALA Councilor Steven Matthews and ALA Past
President Michael Gorman spoke with great skill in defense of their
respective positions in a discussion of "Should ALA take stands on
'non-library' issues."  Both the featured speakers and those who
addressed the issue from the floor were cogent and insightful.  The
issue wasn't resolved, but was given a very respectable presentation by
all parties concerned.  -- Surprisingly, no resolutions were presented
from the floor despite the fact that a full quorum was present.  The
Resolutions Committee was available and ready to act, but the meeting
remained quiet and uneventful.  The attendance was 235 and by any
measures a very successful venture.  Councilor Larry Romans and his
Membership Meeting Committee did an excellent job of planning for this
Conference.  

ALA COUNCIL/EXECUTIVE BOARD/MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION SESSION

COUNCIL I:  Along with encouraging reports on the record setting
attendance at this Conference were very positive indications relative to
the fiscal condition of the Association.  The Endowment Trustees not
only appeared to be diligent and careful with investments, but saw the
endowment fund surge to $30,857,000 where the market value back in 2002
had been only $11 million.  The Endowment Trustees also reported that
they plan to add a second Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) mutual
fund to compliment the good performing Ariel Capital Appreciation fund.
Less encouraging was the report by the APA Treasurer on the "Road to
Solvency" of the ALA-APA organization.  As the fourth year of this
organization comes to a close, it is still reporting a deficit - albeit
a small one of $486 - and has raised only $14,077 in contributions.
When asked how many members of ALA Council had donated to ALA-APA, only
a few hands were raised among the approx. 170 persons in the chamber.  I
was one of those donors, but remain skeptical given the less than
stellar revenue reports from the past year.

ALA/APA COUNCIL:  This meeting reviewed the budgetary and revenue
projections for the next fiscal year (2008) for APA.  Given that the
revenue projections presented by the ALA-APA Treasurer were what I
considered to be unrealistic ($48,000 expected for donations in 2008
versus the actual revenue of $14,077 for 2007), I felt it necessary to
vote against the APA budgetary ceiling proposed of $323,914 (since prior
expenditures had not been above $160,000, but still produced a deficit).
Nevertheless, the motion passed by about 150 to 5.  While I want to see
the ALA-APA succeed, the budgetary projections don't seem to me to be
fiscally responsible.  --  To the credit of APA leadership, there was an
admission of weaknesses in the organization:  "Low awareness among
constituents, Confusion about what it really is, 501c(6) non-tax
deductible status and unstable voluntary contributions."  I agree with
all of these valid criticisms and am disappointed that they were aired
months and years before without any corrective measures having been
taken.  --- One of the strongest and most able proponents of ALA-APA,
Councilor Michael McGrorty, failed to win re-election to Council in
2007.  He will be missed in many respects, but especially by APA.

OCLC PRESIDENT'S LUNCHEON:  Diane and I attended the OCLC President's
Luncheon and enjoyed the program and conversation as well as a fabulous
meal.  As usual, the OCLC Luncheon proved to be a splendid affair and
reflected well upon OCLC CEO Jay Jordan and upon George Needham. Diane
served as a delegate from ILLINET to the OCLC Member's Council during
2001-2004.  

COO (Committee on Organization):  The report of the SUBCOMMITTEE ON
E-PARTICIPATION  was presented to COO at this meeting by Subcommittee
Chair Peter Hepburn and it was decided to present the findings of the
Committee to Council III on June 27.  As a member of the Subcommittee, I
attended this meeting and spoke in defense of its findings.  I will
become a Member of COO from July 2007 to June 2009.  --  The objective
of the Subcommittee, which includes such important members as Jim Rettig
(incoming ALA President-Elect) and Karen Schneider, is to enable full
participation for ALA Members on committees and governing bodies via use
of available technological communication opportunities. 

CLOSING SESSION OF CONFERENCE featured GARRISON KEILLOR.  Despite its
early time at 8 AM to 9 PM on Tuesday, June 26, 2007, hundreds of
Conference attendees waited in long lines to hear a 45 minute talk by
author, humorist and radio personality Garrison Keillor.  Mr. Keillor
reflected upon his early years and how he had come to view the Library
as a refuge from a world that he sometimes found to be alternately
ridiculous and oppressive.  His admiration for the work of libraries and
librarians came out amid the often hilarious remarks and depictions.
Our huge audience seemed to enjoy every morsel of his remarkable
monologue.  A portion of his remarks was published 

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/06/27/keillor/ .

COUNCIL II:  The Committee on Legislation (COL) brought forward several
resolutions that received very strong approval by Council - Resolution
on the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation
Program (NDIIPP) FY 2008 Funding, Resolution on Government Printing
Office FY 2008 Appropriations, Resolution on Funding fort the National
Library Service, Resolution on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) supporting
higher standard for School Library Media presence in schools, and a
Resolution approving Principles for Digital Content.  However, the COL
came under considerable fire for a proposed letter to be sent to the
Government Printing Office on behalf of ALA that didn't seem to have the
backing of Government Documents Librarians.  This communication was
cancelled by Council.  --- The Treasurer's Report was both enjoyable and
extremely informative.  The budgetary ceiling proposed for ALA of some
$60,530,585 was passed unanimously and without criticism.  Treasurer
Teri Switzer and BARC (Budget Analysis and Review Committee) Chair Patty
Wong were given well deserved applause by Council for work well done.
--- The Freedom to Read Foundation report to Council was presented with
customary skill by John W. Berry (who succeeded to the Presidency after
the untimely and sudden death of Gordon Conable in January 2005).  He
reviewed the potentially chilling decision by the Supreme Court on June
25, 2007 in the Morse v. Frederick case where the ALA Supported position
in favor of free speech for youngsters in a school setting was defeated
by a 5-4 vote.  

LIBRARY DAY ON THE HILL:  After Council II, about 900 attendees of this
conference put on red shirts with "Support Libraries" emblazoned on the
front and traveled to Capitol Hill to lobby for key Library issues
outlined by the ALA Washington Office.  I traveled to the Hill myself,
but eschewed the red tee shirt in favor of a suit and tie.  Once again,
I visited Rep. Lipinski's Office to forward a more detailed list of ALA
legislative objectives.  I also visited areas of the Longworth, Rayburn
and Cannon House Office Buildings with Library colleagues.  

COUNCIL III:  The COO Report included an action item to accept the
report of the E-Participation Subcommittee and recommendations that 1/
ALA and its units work to implement e-participation tools, 2/ ALA
Council establish a formal task force charged with adapting ALA policies
and procedures to move forward with effective e-participation practices,
and 3/ that the task force complete its charge by Midwinter 2009.  This
action item passed almost unanimously.  Several Councilors spoke in
favor of this initiative on the grounds that many ALA Members who would
wish to participate actively and with full voting powers in the
Association do not have the time and resources needed to attend
Conferences and MidWinter Meetings and are therefore cut off.  --- The
Intellectual Freedom Committee brought forward a "Resolution on the Use
and Abuse of National Security Letters - On the need for Legislative
reforms to assure the right to read free of government surveillance."
This important resolution was supported unanimously. ---  A Resolution
on Accessible Digitization Projects Resolution  -- called upon Libraries
digitizing materials to adopt Section 508 regulations to afford
accessibility to persons using screen-reader and other assistive
technologies and also called for assistance by grant funding agencies
and companies to provide financial and other aid to Libraries and others
involved in addressing this objective

My notes do not, of course, highlight all of the actions taken by
Council during this eventful Conference.  Copies of the final wording of
all resolutions an action items from Council Sessions will be posted and
available on the ALA Web Site  http://www.ala.org <http://www.ala.org/>
in several weeks.

CONCLUSION:  This Annual Conference in the historically and politically
vital capitol of our nation was a major success in terms of
registrations and avid participation.  The Membership Meetings and
programs were well attended.  Council completed its work (albeit
relatively few items), but a good deal of "word smithing" from the floor
caused less efficiency that many of Councilors would have liked.  More
preliminary review of key documents on the Council List would remedy
this situation.  However, Presidents Berger and Roy ran their sessions
with skill and the work of the Association proceeded successfully. 

My sincerest thanks go to the Oak Lawn Public Library, the Library Board
and Taxpayers of Oak Lawn for supporting my participation in ALA.  

James B. Casey, June 28, 2007.

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