ALA Councilor Report - June 2001
ALA Annual Conference, June 14-20, 2001
The following information was received at Chapter Relations Committee meetings:
ALA has received a grant to train 2 people from each chapter for Leadership Institutes. The program is called Creating Library Leaders. The training will be January 18, 2002 in New Orleans, LA.
Chapters may want to look at their state's confidentiality laws as most were written prior to the digital era. Must take into consideration if want to open the issue with the legislature or leave well enough alone. This might be something the WLA legislative committee might want to look at.
New website for information on Campaign for America's Libraries is .
COUNCIL I
Freedom to Read Foundation Report to Council covered litigation including the ALA suit challenging the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
Under CIPA libraries with Year 4 e-rate approval letters must begin taking steps to study their options prior to 7/1/01. In addition, since the Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act (NCIPA) is not being challenged in court, libraries will have to complete the requirements of this Act as a prerequisite for receiving Year 5 discounts. Studying options include such activities as:
- If you attended update at WYLD Annual Meeting
- A session on issue at ALA
- Conducting a staff meeting with CIPA as an agenda item and you discuss how you are going to comply with the requirements of CIPA
Please regularly check for updated information.
AAMA vs Kendrick - Judge Posner of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a strongly worded judgment that reversed and remanded the lower court decision. His decision was a defense of minor's First Amendment rights. If you are interested in further information on this decision please contact me at .
COUNCIL II
Passed the following:
That ALA adopt the following policy: "ALA affirms that publicly funded libraries should remain directly accountable to the public they serve. Therefore, the American Library Association opposes the shifting of policy making and management oversight of library services from the public to the private, for-profit sector."
By consent Council approved the establishment of an allied professional association to certify individual librarians in areas of specialization beyond the ALA - recognized masters degree. This action calls for the establishment of a 501c6 organization which can certify individuals since a 501c3 organization, which is what ALA is, can not certify individuals.
Council approved a revision of the Preservation Policy. Please see the policy at
COUNCIL III
Margo Crist, Chair of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) provided a brief report on committee activities. Key information in the report follows:
- CIPA - ALA vs United States
- Privacy - The committee is working on developing an interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights on privacy
- "Library Principles of the Networked World" are draft principles with which IFC will stay involved
- Outsourcing Task Force report was reviewed by IFC and as a result a checklist was developed (). The checklist addresses items a library should look at when considering outsourcing. An outsourcing toolkit is being developed modeled after the "Libraries & the Internet Toolkit". Once completed, the toolkit should be extremely useful.
- Libraries & the Internet Toolkit is a work in progress and will be changed as needed. You can find the toolkit at .
- Families Online week will be an annual event. Find information at .
- Banned Books week will be celebrated September 22-29, 2001. Please see .