ALA Councilor Report - ALA/CLA Annual Conference, Toronto 2003
Wyoming Chapter Councilor's Report
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments.
Jennifer Mayer
307-766-5578
mayerj@uwyo.edu
Council Meeting Highlights from the 2003 Annual Conference:
Select Resolutions:
School Libraries and Librarians are Critical to Educational Success: Directs ALA to convey the urgent state of affairs for school libraries and librarians to various bodies such as state governors, State Boards of Education, National Association of School Administrators, etc. (Passed).
New FCC Rules and Media Concentration: Opposes further FCC rules providing for further media concentration. (Tabled).
Note: The full text of the resolutions and actions will be posted on the ALA website-the Council section-at a future date.
Other Issues:
CIPA: This topic was at the forefront of discussions at ALA since the Supreme Court upheld CIPA during the conference. For more information please see the main ALA website-there is a prominent link to the latest CIPA information. As I receive pertinent emails or information I will pass those on to the WLA executive board and WLA membership on this and any other pressing topics.
Core values: The core values task force reported its ongoing struggles with creating a core values document for ALA. The task force received an extension on their work and is charged with bringing a document forward to the ALA Midwinter meeting.
Insurance: Starting in Fall 2003, ALA will offer a group insurance plan for its members. The details will be publicized this fall in American Libraries, emails, the ALA website.
ALA website: ALA received many complaints since the new website was unveiled last spring. Most distressing was that hundreds of online documents were rendered unavailable. There were also glitches with the search function within the website, extremely long urls and structural issues. ALA is currently making corrections and the lost documents are already available. Other improvements will occur later this summer.
Iraq and Cuba: Various resolutions were tabled, withdrawn or failed regarding the resolutions on the stance ALA should take regarding the destruction of Iraqi cultural resources and resolutions on access to information in Cuba. Regarding both of these topics, there were many questions as to the validity of the information and most individuals wanted more background before voting.
Other Meetings
Council Information Sessions: I attended both the ALA-APA Council and ALA Council information sessions. Various financial reports were distributed as well as the ALA President, President-Elect and Executive Director Reports. ALA is in good financial shape in spite of lower attendance numbers at the Toronto conference.
Membership meetings: I attended one of the two membership meetings. There was not a quorum at either meeting so there was discussion but no voting. Membership meetings are an opportunity for any member of ALA to voice their opinions at a forum. This meeting included the topic of electronic meetings. At a subsequent Council meeting Council discussed but narrowly defeated a resolution to create a no conflict meeting time for membership meetings.
Chapter Council Caucus: Chapter councilors discussed their chapters' experiences passing resolutions regarding the US Patriot Act. One councilor recommended any state library chapter resolutions be forwarded to as many legislators as possible with an explanatory note attached. Several states are holding or planning on workshops for librarians regarding Patriot Act issues.
Council Forum: Much of the forum involved discussion about CIPA. Everyone had many questions and there was a great deal of conflicting information and conjecture since the Supreme Court ruling was announced during the conference.
Speakers: Gloria Steinem and Ralph Nader both gave motivational presentations. Ralph Nader spoke of his work with the project to revitalize Washington D.C. public libraries…to read more please see http://www.savedclibraries.org
Conference Attendance: 17,671. This figure includes attendees and exhibitors.
Select Documents and Links
Advocating for Better Salaries Toolkit
http://www.mjfreedman.org/freedmantf/tfhome.html
ALA: http://www.ala.org
Check the spotlights on the right side. The Campaign for America's Libraries link gives information on what's new, including the participation of NASA and the academic and research library campaign.
ALA Council Actions and other information
http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Our_Association/Governance/
Council/Council_Actions/Council_Actions.htm
ALA Washington Office: http://www.ala.org/washoff
This part of the ALA web page has useful Patriot Act tip sheets among many other items like current legislative hot topics.
Lawyers for Libraries Regional Training Institutes for lawyers and library trustees
http://www.ala.org/lawyers
Post Script
I enjoyed my time with Marcia Wright (Campbell) who was my roommate. Marcia, Jerry Krois (WSL), Margaret Thompson (Teton) and I got together for dinner one night. Jerry and I also had dinner with a public library director from Salt Lake City and two prison librarians (one from Colorado and one from Wisconsin) which was very interesting. I met a variety of other librarians, including one who lives on a pueblo in New Mexico. People I meet are always interested in hearing about Wyoming.
II. DRAFT DISCUSSION GUIDE
WHO WE ARE: America's Librarians Discuss Their Professional Values
The goal of this process and tool is to help librarians and library school students discuss their understanding of, and commitment to, the values that librarianship represents. We present this discussion guide with the knowledge that expressing these values is ultimately a subjective process. Definitions and interpretations may vary widely. Nevertheless, there are certain values and principles, embraced by our profession, that contribute to our unique perspectives as librarians. They represent essential and enduring beliefs that we uphold over time.
This guide is the product of an internal review of and numerous discussions on the values of the American Library Association. Two ALA Core Values Task Forces have conducted this work. Their deliberations brought new life to the professional values discourse in librarianship. Rather than attempting to identify a definitive list of library "core values" that has universal meaning and acceptance across the profession, the second Task Force was charged with developing questions and mechanisms to continue a values dialogue across the profession.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to get true consensus on any list of value statements. But, over the years, the American Library Association has produced a number of seminal policies that define the areas in which the values of the library profession reside. In addition, the Core Values Task Forces have contributed ideas on values in working documents and reports.
A set of ten professional value domains--focal points for a number of interrelated values which may derive from a variety of perspectives--- has been extracted from a textual analysis of these documents. This synthesis is an attempt to capture fundamental ideas and ideals of librarianship as reflected in ALA polices. We present these here without elaboration. Their true meaning is in the way they are actualized by practicing library and information professionals.
Librarians everywhere act on their professional values every day. At times, librarians are asked to explain or even defend their professional decisions. Reflecting on these positions, and understanding how other librarians construct their value system as it pertains to the profession, will prepare librarians for the critical moments when difficult determinations must be made.
The guide is intended to help librarians think about and articulate what influences their professional decisions. Why do you make one choice while someone else makes another?
The discussion guide, as envisioned, will facilitate a one to two hour discussion about library professional values. These discussion questions are designed to provoke personal thinking about our professional values, both in theory and in practice. There are no right or wrong answers. The questions are, instead, a way for librarians across the country to exchange their thoughts on professional values, how they came to them, and how they use them to make decisions in their daily work.
TWENTY QUESTIONS ABOUT LIBRARY VALUES
1. What is a library?
2. What role(s) do libraries have in society?
3. Is it important to have libraries?
4. What defines a librarian?
5. What role(s) do librarians have in society?
6. What responsibilities do librarians have to society? To librarianship?
7. What is the relationship between librarians and libraries?
8. How would you define ethical behavior for library and information professionals?
9. Does the library profession have a set of shared values that can be put into everyday practice?
10. What do you think these values are?
A textual analysis of American Library Association documents indicates a set of ten value domains--ideas that are referred to consistently in key policy documents. They are:11. What does each of these value domains mean to you as a library or information professional?
12. Do you agree with this list?
13. Do you think there are other professional value domains that are not represented by this list?
14. Can you articulate the reasoning behind why each of the values on, or added to this list, is important?
15. What are some of the reasons used by others who do not agree with values on this list for their alternative perspective?
16. Do you have any personal values that conflict with your professional values?
17. How do you decide which values will prevail in which situations? How do you decide when there is a conflict of values? Is there a higher principle to which you appeal? Are there some values that take precedence over others?
18. Have any of your professional values changed over time?
19. Does the library profession have a responsibility to educate their various "publics" to the rationale behind their professional value domains?
20. What action steps can we take to further the public's understanding of our professional values?
III. ALA PROCESS AND TIMELINE FOR VALUES DISCUSSIONBy Fall 2001
By Midwinter 2002
Spring through Fall 2002
Annual Conference 2002
Midwinter 2003
Annual Conference 2003
** We hope and expect that the tools developed will facilitate and encourage values discussions in many other venues -libraries of all types, education and continuing education programs, and other related organizations.
2002-2003 ALA CD#28
2003 ALA Annual Conference
MEMORANDUM
DATE: June 5, 2003
TO: ALA Council Members
FROM: Lois Ann Gregory-Wood, Council Secretariat
RE: Annual Reports to ALA Council
In accordance with ALA Policy 5.5.5: "Annual reports from ALA division presidents shall be submitted to Council in writing for inclusion in the record of Council meetings," attached are the following divisional reports received to date:
CD#28.1 American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
CD#28.2 Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)
CD#28.6 Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA)
CD#28.7 Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA)
CD#28.8 Library and Information Technology Association (LIT A)
CD#28.9 Public Library Association (PLA)
CD#28.10 Reference and User Services Division (RUSA)
CD#28.11 Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
Please Note: CD#28.3 Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS), CD#28.4Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), and CD#28.5 Association for Library Trustees and Advocates (AL TA) were not ready for distribution. They will be made available at a later date.
ALA CD#28.1
American Association of School Librarians
a division of the American Library Association
PRESIDENT'S FINAL REPORT
Annual Report to AASL Membership and ALA Council Nancy P. Zimmerman, President, 2002-2003 American Association of School Librarians
One of the perks of being President of AASL is the opportunity to attend conferences of our Affiliate Assembly members. I have been fortunate to meet and speak to school library media specialists at state conferences in California, Massachusetts (NEEMA), New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. I have represented the Association at meetings in Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. While this wasn't the best year to be engaged in extensive travel -I now pack, arrange carry-on baggage, and dress for travel very differently -I have been privileged to meet hundreds of dedicated school library professionals who really care about students and their learning and the school library profession. My term concludes at the ALA Annual conference, this year a joint conference with the Canadian Library Association/Canadian Association of School Librarianship (CASL) in Toronto -an appropriate segue to the Association's international activity.
Let me begin my final report with the formation of the AASL International Relations Committee and our alliance with the Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries or CISSL (pronounced sizz'l) in the School of Communication, Information, and Library Science, at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, by Professors Carol Kuhlthau and Ross Todd. CISSL's purpose is to engage scholars across the world in a more coordinated and collaborative approach to research for universal applicability and to serve as a portal for research communication and dissemination. With a worldwide shortage of SLM faculty, CISSL also recruits and provides an opportunity for SLMSs to engage in doctoral studies, a major component of AASL's recruitment efforts. Because SLMSs worldwide are dealing with the same critical issues, developments, and challenges of teaching and learning and because we can all learn from each other, AASL's International Relations Committee's charge is to collaborate and engage in dialogue with the international school library community and associations on school library issues and research and to disseminate that research and information to the Association and our members. The International Relations and Research Committees will provide vehicles for AASL' s continued involvement and support ofCISSL's efforts. Several AASL member leaders were invited to the CISSL opening event, but the event never occurred because eight inches of snow fell in April... Can you believe April?.. closing the Rutgers campus and most of the State of New Jersey. Those of us who made it- in before the snow had a lovely dinner with sparkling conversation and wine inside the hotel dining room and shared a toast to CISSL' s success. At ALA Annual, CASL and AASL share the stage with a joint President's Program followed by an ice cream social reception that will showcase these international collaborative ventures.
Let me recap for you some of the year's other highlights and accomplishments. The Strategic Plan was reviewed and our progress evaluated. The Association Vision Statement was adopted. The bylaws review was completed and the bylaws revision was approved by the vote of the membership on the recent ballot. The Bylaws Committee is now working on a reviewing the policies and procedures of the Association and putting them into a consistent format adopted by the Board at Midwinter. The Executive Committee will be bringing a proposal to the Board at Annual to establish an endowment fund for the Association. AASL is financially healthy, but we are very conference revenue dependent and we need to provide a financial lifeline to ensure our continued vitality. Board dialogue continues on the advantages and disadvantages of keeping the executive director's position split between AASL and Y ALSA.
The AASL "@ your library campaign" research phase is complete and the campaign is now in the final stages of development. The Alliance for Association Excellence was created to establish collaborative relationships between AASL and the business community and a new sponsorship and recognition program is in place. AASL has developed its first leadership institute, "Leading through Collaboration. " This initial offering of a series of leadership institutes to be made available regionally is an opportunity for members to acquire the leadership skills necessary to achieve change and work on the challenges facing the SLM profession while receiving professional development credit.
Our publications, Knowledge Quest, School Library Media Research, and Hotlinks, continue regular quality publication to inform our members, and AASL Forum, the AASL listserv, provides members the opportunity to voice and share information and thoughts. We continue legislative efforts through the ALA Washington Office, the AASL Legislative Committee, and the Affiliate Assembly. Notably these efforts include increased funding for the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program (a subset of the ESEA bill) and recruitment.
The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) approved the work of our NCATE Committee and accepted the ALAI AASL Standards for Initial Programs for School Library Media Preparation and our members continue to train and serve as program reviewers. AASL developed a fonnal alliance with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and held a forum with NBPTS last fall to support our members seeking national teacher certification. Ninety-five members were successful in their efforts during the initial offering of certification in Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/Library Media (ECY A/Library Media). A NBPTS special interest group has been formed to inform and support members' NBPTS efforts.
The Recruitment Task Force report was accepted by the AASL Board and will be utilized by President-elect Fran Roscello for her mentoring initiative. The Teaching and Learning Task Force has become a permanent committee so that its important work can continue and members will present a pre-conference in Toronto at Annual. The Vision Expansion Task Force has begun its review of research, best practice, publications, and pertinent data to inform the work of the next standards and guidelines development team to be appointed for 2005. The Reading for Information and Understanding Task Force has begun its work and the identified comprehension strategies of successful readers will be the topic of my President's Program at ALA Annual in Toronto with Ellin Keene, author of Mosaic of Thought, presenting. The Awards Committees have evaluated and selected a worthy list of recipients.
The Affiliate Assembly continues to refine its function as the Membership Committee and to share concerns and propose solutions to regional issues. As a direct result of their efforts, the membership of AASL continues to grow and there was no decline after our 10th National Conference in Indianapolis. The 11th National AASL Conference will be held in Kansas City October 22-26, 2003. We continue to support the efforts of our parent association, ALA, by serving on ALA committees and Council, and by contributing a Spectrum Scholarship and funds for the CIP A litigation and Intellectual Freedom defense efforts.
The year has gone by quickly and we have accomplished a lot, but we still have a great deal yet to do. Our work continues under 2003-2004 President Fran Roscello, the able committees she is appointing, our Board, and our newly elected officers, Dawn Vaughn. Carrie Gardner, Claudia Myers, and Ten Kirk, and our new Regional Directors-elect, Irene Kwidzinski, Floyd Pentlin, Virginia Wallace, Alison Almquist, and Mary Ann Harlan. Congratulations to those elected and a very special thanks also to those who agreed to run and serve. I know your talents can be utilized by AASL in another capacity because there is always so much important work to do. So as my year concludes, I want to thank you for this wonderful, unique opportunity to serve as your President and reiterate that all of this wouldn't have been accomplished without the hard work of many dedicated and talented people -particularly the committee and task force chairs and members, the Affiliate Assembly, the Board, the AASL staff, and the best Executive Committee any president could ever have. Thank you all for your hard work on behalf of this Association, the profession, and the students. It will be an honor to continue to serve you as Past President and to represent you as ALA Councilor-at- Large.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy P. Zimmerman
AASL 2002-2003 President
Association of College & Research Libraries
A Division of the American Library Association
ALA CO#28.2
ACRL President's Report to Council Helen H. Spalding, ACRL President, 2002-2003 ALA Annual Conference, June 19-25, 2003, Toronto
What a dynamic, productive year for ACRL members! The presidential theme of "New Realities, New Relationships" proved especially relevant to our profession during a time of change in technology, higher education, public policy, and the economy. As exemplified by the ACRL 11th National Conference, we have provided extraordinary professional development opportunities to support academic and research librarians in delivering quality collections and services. New collaborations have been developed within ALA, with other higher education groups, and across borders with Canadian and Mexican colleagues. Greater visibility for the value of what we do has been achieved through increased media coverage and the development of the Academic and Research Library Campaign materials. We have increased our investment of resources in issues related to scholarly communication costs, legislation, and recruitment. Our commitment to diversity in the profession has been demonstrated by our additional support for the ALA Spectrum Initiative and for ACRL conference and program scholarships. ACRL's publications program remains strong, and a solid base is in place to develop a new strategic plan to reposition ACRL for an even more robust future.
1.0 Society recognizes the contributions that academic and research libraries and librarians make in higher education, scholarly communication, and civic development.
2.0 Academic librarians advocate for public policy, legislation, and institutional change that enhance the values and contribution they make to learning, teaching, and research.
3.0 ACRL is an inclusive organization serving academic librarians and other information professionals in related professions.
4.0 Academic and research librarians are continually engaged in learning for their professional development and growth.
5.0 ACRL is a national and international interactive leader in creating, expanding, and transferring the body of knowledge of academic librarianship.
6.0 ACRL is an effective and a dynamic organization that continually enhances its capacity to create its future and assess and improve its performance in carrying out its mission.
I want to thank the members of ACRL who are so generous with their time and creativity in developing and implementing the programs and publications. It is only through member participation and leadership that ACRL can remain strong and relevant. I also want to express the appreciation of all members to the ACRL staff who provide extraordinary management of the Association's assets and remarkable support to the members.
ALA CD#28.6
Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies
A Division of the American Library Association
Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies
2002-2003 Annual Report
to the Council of the American Library Association
During the past year, ASCLA has taken new directions to implement the Strategic Plan for 2003, and at the same time continued its tradition of granting awards to exceptional individuals and libraries and providing quality conference programming.
In implementing the Strategic Plan, ASCLA has evolved a new organizational model that suits a division with a limited membership well-that of task forces. Task forces have a specific activity to accomplish in a limited time frame with a relatively small number of enthusiastic members directly involved. Much of their work is completed electronically. In the past year, three standing committees, Conference Planning, Organization and Bylaws, and Research, have been dissolved. Instead, conference planning is now coordinated by a single individual who meets with the various units and reports to the Board. Organization and Bylaws will be reconstituted as a task force when the need arises. The original charge to the Research Committee lacked general interest from the membership and the amended charge as stated in the Strategic Plan proved to be too nebulous.
The Strategic Plan identified a number of areas of interest to the membership and task forces have been appointed to carry out the actions deemed highest priority: a mentoring program, a preconference on career development, and identifying and developing web CE courses and workshops of interest to our members. Another task force was appointed immediately following the 2002 Annual Conference to develop guidelines for the ASCLA website. Progress is being made in all these areas. Similarly, two new areas were identified at Midwinter and task forces have been appointed to address these issues and report to the ASCLA Board. These areas are writing a business plan for the Century Scholarship and creating guidelines for grant applications that might be made on behalf of ASCLA. Members serving on the task forces seem to like the specificity of their assignments and the time frame involved. The current ASCLA Vice-President is exploring whether the ASCLA sections might also be interested in pursuing this more streamlined organizational model.
While all the ASCLA standing committees have been working diligently to carry out their charges, I am especially grateful for the work of the LST A Reauthorization Subcommittee in seeking the reauthorization of this key federal program. The Subcommittee also worked with LST A state coordinators to get stories into the LST A Success Stories electronically accessible database (available at www.ala.org/ascla) and in making the discussion list, ASCLA-LSTA, effective in keeping members informed of the legislation.
At the ASCLA President's Program in Toronto we will honor five individuals who have made major contributions to the profession and seven libraries for their leadership and involvement in making their resources accessible to people with disabilities.
Our individual award winners include:
Two awards have been given to libraries. One of these, the ASCLA/National Organization on Disability Award, is given annually to an innovative and well-organized project that successfully developed or expanded services for disabled persons. Aetna U.S. Healthcare through the National Organization on Disability funds the $1,000 award. The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, North Carolina is the 2003 award recipient.
The second award has already been given to six libraries as part of an initiative between ASCLA and the Hewlett Packard Company. The Library Technology Access Initiative placed two accessible workstations in each of six libraries selected by an ASCLA Task Force on the basis of those libraries' demonstrated commitment to serving people with disabilities. Those libraries are the I.D. Weeks Library at the University of South Dakota, the Hayden Library at Arizona State University, Cleveland Public Library, Milwaukee Public Library, Johnson County Public Library in Kansas, and the San Diego Public Library. Representatives of those libraries are being recognized at the President's Program.
Conference programs being offered in Toronto include two preconferences: Staying Connected: Building Support in the Community for Your Technology Programs, a joint offering with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for state library agency representatives, and Thinking Outside the Box: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Libraries and Library Cooperatives, which is being presented by ICAN, an ASCLA section. Other programs during the conference include such diverse offerings as Mentoring 101, Sante! Health Networks in the USA and Canada, How to be a Successful Prison Librarian, and What's Behind the Door of the Statewide Virtual Library.
Work has begun on the development of a new edition of Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. This two-year project is a joint effort of ASCLA and the National Library Service.
Compiling the above list of ASCLA accomplishments during my year as president has reaffirmed my appreciation for the hard work of both standing committees and task forces and for the truly outstanding support given to members by the ASCLA staff. Thanks to you all.
Ethel E. Himmel, ASCLA President
ALA CD#28.7
Library Administration and Management Association
a division of the American Library
Library Administration and Management Association
2002-2003 Annual Report
to the ALA Council
The Library Administration and Management Association has had a busy and productive year. In November 2002, we hosted a National Institute in Naples, Florida with over 160 attendees and featuring a keynote address by Robert Martin, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
At the Midwinter meeting, over 60 LAMA members attended a leadership retreat, intended to clarify our goals for the near-term and reexamine our strategic plan, which was intended to cover the years from 1999-2004. Our three leading goals for the near-term are to: enlarge the membership base; perform more outreach to prospective members and participants; and publicize more heavily our regional institutes. To accomplish these goals, since midwinter LAMA has: remained actively connected to the NMRT and sought participation in its events; received a grant from World Book for $10,000 to engage newer librarians in the ALA annual conference and midwinter meeting; encouraged LAMA board members to perform outreach to their area library schools and on library school list serves; reformulated our website (with a new logo) to put more emphasis on membership and regional conferences; and, started aggressively planning for our next national institute in Palm Spring, California.
To meet, head-on, some of the challenges all of the divisions face regarding revenue and providing quality service, LAMA members voted overwhelmingly to restructure their dues. Additionally, we are looking at ways to encourage additional publications (through more cooperation of our many publishing committees and a better royalty system for authors), we are working hard on cementing corporate relationships and building outside sponsorships; and we continue to encourage donations to the LAMA endowment through events and direct mailings. LA & M, LAMA's excellent journal on management issues, continues a robust publication schedule of 4 issues per year and the LAMA board is looking at ways to enhance the magazine's coverage by providing supplementary features through the LAMA website.
LAMA awards this year will go to Rod McNeil and William Sannwald, to the BES Functional Space Requirements Committee, to YBP I Baker & Taylor, and to two groups who are performing diversity outreach in their regions. In collaboration with the American Institute of Architects and the H.W. Wilson Company and Foundation, LAMA will, once again, participate in recognizing excellence in library architecture and in public relations through the AlAI ALA Library Buildings Award and the John Cotton Dana Award.
Additionally, this year LAMA has a new award--donated by LAMA member Diana Braddom--which will provide funding for conference attendance to two individuals interested in enhancing their fundraising skills.
These awards, and the activities of the individuals and groups receiving them, are all directly related to the LAMA's divisional goals--recognizing leadership, promoting excellence in library buildings and outreach, encouraging diversity in the profession, and nurturing new members of the profession.
At ALA annual, LAMA will host 3 preconferences and many programs. The President's Program, on Sunday, June 22 is entitled "Moving Up, Reaching Out," and is intended to spotlight the importance of mentorship and participation in our communities. A Social for the entire Division will be held after the program. A training session for new section and committee chairs will be held on Saturday, June 21; a session for new members will be held prior to the President program on Sunday.
Other LAMA highlights at the ALA/CLA Annual Conference are: "The USA PATRIOT Act: Managing Libraries in the Age of Terrorism," and "New Visions in Public Libraries: Innovative Processes, Partnerships and Programs." The LAMA Endowment will host a Baseball Benefit on Monday, June 23, when the Toronto Blue Jays meet the Baltimore Orioles.
Attracting new members, keeping ongoing members engaged and involved, and retaining members of longstanding are vital aspects of LAMA's activities in the near and long term. Keeping the budget healthy, keeping services relevant, and responding promptly--through programming and activities--to our membership's need for ongoing education and enhanced networking, unlike the majority of our deliberations and committee work. In these efforts, we are aided by the LAMA Officers--Paul Anderson, Vice-President/President elect, Rod MacNeil, Chair of Budget and Finance, Joan Giesecke, past President, and Charles Kratz, LAMA Councilor, and by the LAMA staff: Lorraine Olley, Dollester Thorn-Hawkins, Pat Thornton, and Arawa McClendon.
Newly elected officers for 2004-05 include Virginia Steel, Vice- President! President elect and Kay Carpenter, Director at Large.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda S. Dobb, LAMA President & Executive Vice President Bowling Green State University
ALA CD#28.8
Library & Information Technology Association
A Division of the American Library Association
Report of the Library and Information Technology Association to ALA Council
2002-2003
Pat Ensor, LITA President May 21,2003
LITA's Mission Statement
LIT A educates, serves, and reaches out to its members, other ALA members and divisions, and the entire library and information community through its publications, programs, and other activities designed to promote, develop, and aid in the implementation of library and information technology. (Adopted May, 1999)
2002-2003: a Time of Challenge
At a time when library and information technology practitioners are facing a number of economic challenges, LIT A has continued and expanded education, communication, and planning initiatives to better meet the current needs of members and the library and information community as a whole.
Educating
LIT A continued its emphasis on high-quality programming and publications, aimed at providing learning material to members and non-members alike, in a variety of formats.
The 2002 LITA National Forum took place in Houston on October 10 -13; the theme was "Making Connections," and this is exactly what happened for the 342 attendees. Three preconferences, three plenary sessions, a vendor showcase, and 30 concurrent sessions all took place in an environment conducive to personal networking. Although attendance was not as high as that at the 2001 Milwaukee forum (448), considering the changed travel environment in which we find ourselves, the attendance was still quite respectable, and forum goers have always appreciated the smaller, more intimate atmosphere. LIT A still realized quite a reasonable amount of revenue.
The 2003 National Forum will take place in Norfolk, Virginia. Its theme is "Putting Technology into Practice." As part of LIT A's efforts to facilitate more efficient processes, the planning committee for this Forum was appointed earlier than in the past, allowing it to get a "head start" on program development. Committee membership was also expanded to ensure inclusion of many regional members, representing all types of libraries.
Three preconferences are planned: "The Library as a Place in the Digital Age," "Handhelds for Library Programs: Providing New Levels of Service," and "Creating, Maintaining, and Using Open Source Software in Libraries." Planned plenary session speakers include R. David Lankes, Liz Bishoff, and David Seaman, in three general sessions. Twenty-nine concurrent sessions will be joined by a first-time appearance by poster sessions at the Forum; twelve were accepted. A vendor showcase will also be featured.
LITA continued its successful presentation of Regional Institutes, which are intended to bring programming to a number of different areas of the country. They also offer partnering opportunities that put LIT A in touch with a number of regional consortia. A phenomenally successful institute on "XML and Libraries" was developed and presented 4 times, including presentations at the 2002 forum and as a Midwinter 2003 workshop. An institute on ebooks has also been developed; it has been presented once and was also scheduled as a preconference for Toronto. Other potential topics that are being developed include wireless telecommunication and open source software (with one version of this planned for delivery at the 2003 forum, as noted above.)
For the 2003 Annual Conference, LITA continues its presentation of useful programming with two preconferences (ebooks, as noted above, and "Breaking Free: Recreating Your Library Web Site From A-Z"), 14 conference program sessions, and the LITA President's Program, featuring Brewster Kahle, speaking on "Universal Access to all Human Knowledge."
Although this year did not see any new LITA monographic publications, its practical guides continued to be popular, and one is in development on XML and libraries. LITA's journal, Information Technology and Libraries, has many of its articles available online as well as in print. In addition, a new President's column was inaugurated this year. Technology Electronic Reviews continued to provide useful reviews, available entirely online.
An effort that began this year which LIT A hopes will ultimately result in a publication/Web site feature is being developed by the Practice Guidelines Task Force. Its charge is to develop a process for creating practice guideline documents relating to library and information technology.
Communicating
A major initiative for 2002-2003 was the redesign of the LITA Web site, as well as its conversion for the reorganized and Content-Management-System-based ALA Web site. LIT A's Web Coordinating Committee and the LIT A Office put immense effort into ensuring that the most used portions of the site were available and accessible when the new ALA site went up. A new design and architecture for the site were put into place at the same time; they will serve as an intermediate phase while survey input is sought by members for a more extensive redesign.
The use of the new Content Management System allows much more flexibility in both developing and accessing the LITA Web site. Although use of the LIT A address www.lita.org originally "disappeared" from the Web site, LIT A appreciates the work by ALA to restore this; it has now been restored.
Other moves were made to improve communication in a variety of ways involving the Web site and the LITA-L discussion list. Agendas for governance meetings were published in advance on the Web site, with notice provided to LITA-L about their availability. Minutes have been placed on the Web site for a number of years, but now announcements of them also appear on LITA-L.
Two task forces were created that should provide underpinning for making the LIT A Web site a better communication tool: the Online Manual Task Force and the Web Policy Task Force. The Online Manual Task Force will complete the task of incorporating the old LIT A Manual into the structure of the Web site, allowing for better communication of the basics of LIT A procedures and processes. The Web Policy Task Force will establish policies governing the LIT A Web site's content, responsibilities for its management, and an approval process for posting content online.
Through the LITA Town Meeting at Midwinter 2003, members conveyed a frustration with the ebb of LIT A news information availability, and the Board had also been concerned about this. The Web Coordinating Committee is working to revive the news function on the Web site to provide association news, while an initiative is underway to redefine and implement a broader news function, especially covering the activities of Interest Groups.
Planning
Inspired by attendance at an American Society for Association Executives workshop in fall 2002, LIT A leadership has been instituting new procedures to better prepare the Board for strategic progress. The Board is working to make better use of its face-to-face meeting time by ensuring that there is an opportunity for discussion of broad issues.
Out of this work has grown a desire to develop a vision statement for LITA and to go through the process of reexamining LITA's mission and strategies to be sure that it is moving in a direction that will help it achieve its preferred future. Work is beginning on this process at the Annual 2003 ALA conference, and it will continue through the next year. The Board recognizes that, as in the past, change has to be driven by the input and participation of the association as a whole.
LITA considers it vital to continue to develop an association that is of high value to its members. In times of economic difficulty, realizing value for money invested is of even higher concern than usual; we have noted that our membership is down 3.7%, to 4,840 (as of Midwinter 2003). It is of supreme importance that the association goes through a process of determining what it wants to be, in order to stay creative and strong.
LITA's Budget
LITA's revenues continue to be largely derived from membership dues and special programming efforts, and it does appear likely that there will be reasonable net revenue this fiscal year. Fund balances continue to be in healthy shape, enough so that LITA was glad to be able to contribute $10,000 to the CIP A defense fund in the fall. LIT A is budgeting conservatively for the near future, but it is still possible that we will undergo a couple of years with small, if any, net revenue. Our fund balance should see us through to a time when we can engage in long-term investment efforts.
LITA Board of Directors
Pat Ensor, President
Thomas Wilson, Vice President/President-Elect
Flo Wilson, Past President
Barbra Buckner Higginbotham, Councilor
Karen Cook, Director at Large
Thomas Dowling, Director at Large
James Kennedy, Director at Large
Scott P. Muir, Director at Large Patrick Mullin, Director at Large
Bonnie Postlethwaite, Director at Large
Colby M. Riggs, Director at Large
Susan Jacobson, Parliamentarian (Ex Officio)
Mary Taylor, Executive Director (Ex Officio)
LITA Staff
Mary Taylor, Executive Director
Rob Carlson, Deputy Executive Director
Tel Aviv Barbee, Program Coordinator
Valene Edmonds, Administrative Secretary
ALA CD# 28.9
Public Library Association President's Report
2002-2003
Serving as president of the Public Library Association means one chairs Board meetings at Annual and Midwinter Conferences, presides over Executive Committee meetings, writes columns for Public Libraries and appoints many people to many committees. More importantly it allows one to contribute to an association which provides excellent value to its members and in turn to public libraries. My short year as president has given me the opportunity to work with a dedicated staff and many talented members. PIA has accomplished much because of those members and staff and their belief in the value of the public library to the people it serves. Some of those accomplishments are detailed below.
PLA. 2003 Spring Symposium
PLA's ninth Spring Symposium had nearly 800 registrants who chose from one of 5 workshops -Building the Perfect Library; Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Effectiveness; Power Up with Print: Connecting Teens and Reading in a Digital Age; Emergent Literacy Part II: Research and Preschool Services; and Staffing for Results. The opening session featured Mem Fox while the author luncheon attendees were entertained by Chris Bohjalian.
Continuing Education Initiatives
2003 ALA Annual Conference
PLA sponsored 2 pre-conference programs and 22 programs at the 2003 ALA Annual Conference. In addition, the annual PLA President's Program and Award reception featured keynote speaker Margaret Atwood. Atwood's presentation was the culmination of the first-ever association-wide reading and discussion program hosted by the ALA Public Programs Office, in collaboration with PLA. The aim of "One Book, One Conference" was to engage ALA, PLA and Canadian Library Association (CLA) members and attendees at the ALA/CLA Annual Conference in reading and discussing Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale." Based on the "One City, One Book" program started in Seattle, this conference reading/discussion program added another dimension to ALA and PLA's commitment to member learning opportunities.
PLA National Conference 2004
PLA members and staff worked hard this year preparing for PLA NC 2004, which will be held February 24-28,2004, in Seattle, Washington. Over 150 programs and talk tables, 6 pre-conferences, nearly 800 booths in the exhibits hall, author events, social events, tours, and much more are planned for the conference.
Traveling Workshops
PLA held two Train the Trainer workshops this year. These workshops based on the "Results" publications included: Staffing for Results held in Boston, in May of 2003 and Managing for Results: Effective Resource Allocation for Public Libraries held in October 8,2002 in Denver, Colorado.
PLA cosponsored with the Upper Hudson Library System (NY) a train the trainer event focusing on facilitating the planning process.
Online Learning
PLA is preparing for its early 2004 launch of the first online learning module, based on writing policies for public libraries. This module will provide access to PLA-sponsored training for those unable to travel to site-specific training workshops
.Planning for the Future -PLA' s Strategic Plan
Having completed a strategic planning process with the adoption of a plan at Annual Conference 2002, PLA is now able to focus its efforts on the needs of its members in developing its products.
PLA. Publishing Activities
"Results" Series
Beginning with publication of Planning for Results: A Public Library Transformation Process in 1998 the "Results" Series now includes Staffing for Results: A Guide to Working Smarter and The New Planning for Results: A Streamlined Approach. These publications reflect PLA's commitment to providing products to members which will enhance their ability to provide excellent library service to their customers. PLA also takes this information another step by developing workshops to help readers use the information presented. Work during this year focused on Creating Policies for Results: From Chaos to Clarity to be published by ALA in 2003.
Electronic Newsletter
PLA's electronic newsletter is sent to members (who have chosen to receive it) approximately twice per month. Packed with late-breaking news and other items of interest to the public library world, the e-newsletter also is archived on PLA's website, www.pla.org.
Technotes
PLA continues its popular TechNotes Series. These Web-based papers introduce specific technologies for public librarians are found on the PLA web page. Added this year were:
Internet and WAN Access Options
Mobile Computer Devices in Libraries
Automated Storage/Retrieval and Return/Sorting Systems
Disaster Planning for Computers and Networks
Wireless LANS
PLA Publications/Monographs Program
This year PLA worked on monographs in two subject areas: the public library as a central player in the dispersing of information during an emergency/disaster; and working with Friends' organizations.
PLA and McGraw Hill Trade plan to release updated versions of The Guide to Basic Cover Letter Writing and The Guide to Basic Resume Writing.
Public Libraries
Public Libraries, the magazine continues to thrive under the guidance of feature editor Renee Vaillancourt McGrath. This year, PL featured a theme issue focused on serving persons with disabilities (Jan/Feb 2002); awarded prizes to two public librarians for excellence in feature article writing; and increased the number of author interviews and other fast reads in the magazine.
Issues and Advocacy
Early Childhood Literacy Project
The Public Library Association's Early Literacy Initiative began in 2000 with a partnership with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), a division of the National Institutes of Health. NICHD had just released the National Reading Panel's report, providing research- based findings concerning reading development in America's children. The first step in the partnership with NICHD was to help disseminate information about the report and the next step was to develop model public library programs incorporating this research. Using the tools developed in the course of this program, PLA ,along with the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), continues to educate public librarians about research-based preschool programming and reading development. Visit www.pla.org for more information about this ongoing project.
Recruitment of Public Librarians Project
PLA has developed a number of products to aid in the ongoing effort to recruit public librarians into the profession. The association has developed a comprehensive recruitment website (www.ala.org) that contains testimonials from real-life librarians on why they chose public librarianship; educational requirements; scholarships information and links; salary data and other resources; and an informative look at the public library world entitled Public Library Fast Facts. In addition to the website, colorful. Ask me why I love my job buttons and brochures entitled "Public Librarianship: Imagine the Possibilities" are available.
Job Shadow Day
As part of the recruitment initiative PLA participated in Job Shadow Day. On January 31, 2003, PLA, AASL and ACRL joined forces with other associations across America in support of National Job Shadow Day. Now in its sixth year this kick-off began a year-long initiative that gives students across America the chance to "shadow" a workplace mentor as he or she goes through a day on the job. Young people nationwide get an up-close look at how skills learned in school are put to use in the workplace. School, academic and public librarians received information and support from the three divisions to participate in the program as part of recruitment efforts association-wide.
Certified Public Library Administrator Program
PLA continues working with the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) and the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) to develop a certification program for public library administrators. The proposed Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) program is a post-MLS certification program for public librarians. The proposed CPLA certification will enable public library administrators:
In preparation for launching the CPLA certification, the CPLA Implementation Task Force conducted an online task analysis survey to verify that draft standards are indeed reflective of the actual work in which library administrators are engaged.
Partnerships
Shy Librarian
PLA entered into an agreement with Joseph Cadieux, publisher of the quarterly journal The Shy Librarian, to distribute the journal to PLA's members. Beginning with the Spring 2003 issue and ending with the Winter 2004 issue, PLA will mail each issue of The Shy Librarian as a no charge member benefit. The Shy Librarian is a quarterly print magazine which focuses on "promoting libraries, librarians, and books," with many articles on library marketing, public relations, and programming. It also features reviews of new books for children and young adults, as well as reviews of professional books.
Neal-Schuman/PLA Partnership
PLA entered into a yearlong joint marketing effort with Neal-Schuman Publishers with both partners providing marketing opportunities to each other. PLA members also receive a special discount on Neal-Schuman products
.Participation in ALA Initiatives
PLA Awards Program
The PLA Awards program honors those providing public library service whose vision and accomplishments are extraordinary and deserve recognition. The eight awards total over $15,000 in cash and merchandise. The awards for 2002-2003 included:
Jo Ann Pinder
President 2002-2003
ALA CD#28.10
Reference and User Services Association
2002-2003 Annual Report (FY 2003)
to the Council of the American Library Association
Activities and Programming
RUSA has concentrated the last two years on learning what our membership and potential members need from the Association and moving toward meeting those needs. Two major areas of need were in resource sharing/interlibrary loan and in general reference services. As the Management and Operation of User Services Section (MaUSS), which was carrying out its five year review in 02-03, had committees related to both of these areas, it was logical for them to take the lead in determining interest, proposing realignment of existing committees and formation of new ones, and reorganizing to serve today's reference and user services librarians. We are happy to report that a new Resource Sharing Section proposal was presented at the ILL discussion group at Midwinter and met with overwhelming support. A petition is being circulated to create a new section.
The RUSA Board at Midwinter approved the statement of "Professional Competencies for Reference and User Services Librarians," which has been posted on the Association's newly revised and expanded website. Part of our long-term plan is to make our website more than an index/calendar/outline by expanding fulltext content with useful, practical information for the practicing reference and user services librarian. We have established a new Web Policies subcommittee to help guide this growth. The RUSA site already includes Readers Advisory Sources, best Web site lists and ALA sites for "Best Books;" guidelines for electronic services, genealogy, history, interlibrary loan, reference/information services, and special user populations; RUSA publications; conference programs; and links to other helpful information.
During 2002-2003, RUSA completed the contracted Wells Fargo grant project "The Path to Home Ownership Begins @ Your Library" with participation from 10 selected libraries nationwide. The initial $700,000 grant provided funding for the development of reading lists, publicity materials, and grant administration. Participating libraries offered seminars on home ownership education.
Naturally RUSA is very interested in digital reference initiatives, and has co-sponsored the Virtual Reference Desk conferences for 3 years. Currently we are concentrating on preparing a post conference for the fall 2003 VRD; the clinical teaching initiative; developing guidelines for digital reference competencies and guidelines; online course development; and an open forum at Toronto on Draft Guidelines for Implementing and Maintaining Virtual Reference Services.
Some highlights of the year's activities:
Conclusion
RUSA has proven its value as the premier organization for reference and user services librarians everywhere and is well positioned to continue leadership in areas both old and new. Its greatest strength is its members and their devotion to service and innovation in librarianship.
Respectfully submitted to the Council of the American Library Association, the RUSA Board of Directors and RUSA-L by:
Cindy Stewart Kaag, President
RUSA, 2002-2003
ALA CD#28.11
Young Adult Library Services Association
a division of the American Ubrary Association
YOUNG ADULT LIBRARY SERVICES ASSOCIATION
President's Report- Spring 2003
By Caryn Sipos
Throughout the 2002-2003 year, the focus has been on young adults: involving more of them in conferences, providing training to library staff to improve service to them, and just generally soliciting their input on every booklist for which YALSA is famous. It was especially important since my theme for the year was youth participation, something that we all need to nurture every chance we get.
My term began at the end of June, in 2002, with two teens being part of my first official presentation at the Membership meeting. Almost immediately things started happening. In October YALSA launched its own professional journal. Also out went JOYS. After fourteen years of working with the Association for Library Service to Children to serve both age groups, YALSA and ALSC felt that both groups would be better served if the journals could be more specific. YALSA was then free to target teen librarians, a better fit with its Vision, and so Young Adult Library Services came to be. Thanks to editor Jana Fine, it took a whole new approach towards serving its readership. We learned from folks inside and outside our profession -even heard from a real TEEN or two.
Teen Read Week continued to grow. In October 2002, the theme was "Get Graphic @ your library TM" and over 1 ,000 public libraries and school library media centers took time to register their plans on the Teen Read Week Web site.
Again, YALSA broke new records on the number of hits to the Teen Read Week website. The survey of teen readers that has been done the past few years with SmartGirl.org reached a record 6,000 teen respondents and there were over 130,000 hits on the Teen Read Week Web site.
Then came Midwinter, January 2003, in Philadelphia. Teens were front and center here, too. Literally. There were 50 teens, and about 200 adults, who were ready and eager to talk to the Best Books for Young Adults committee during the public comment session. We thank the librarians and school library media specialist who accompanied them.
In fairness, some of us adults got to do cool things, too. For example, this was YALSA's year to host the Youth Awards Press Conference. Imagine my pleasure at being on a podium with ALA President Mitch Freedman, announcing the winner of the Michael L. Printz award and introducing those who would announce other much-anticipated book awards.
Midwinter was an opportunity to strengthen an already strong group, the Serving the Underserved Trainers. This corps of volunteers provides basic training in young adult services to libraries across the country. The SUS trainers have trained over 25,000 people in less than ten years of existence!
The SUS trainers came for a special training in YALSA's newest initiative, New Directions in Library Service for Young Adults, outlined in a book of the same name. They add this to their already extensive list of training topics, in order to continue helping libraries form positive and lasting relationships with the next generation of library supporters.
The YALSA Board was intrepid as always -in with the new and out with the old - to serve teens and their librarians in new and better ways. Out went Teen Hoopla, a website devoted to teens, but in came TAGS (Teen Advisory Groups Task Force), whose purpose is to develop a section of the YALSA Web Site to focus on the needs of teen advisory groups in libraries. We're expecting this site to be up this fall, and it should serve as a great resource for you librarians out there who are getting your teens participating in your libraries.
The hard work of the Y A-Galley cadre of teens and librarians is finally getting official recognition with the establishment of the Y A-Galley Committee, whose members will be facilitating the exchange of galleys and books among participating teens, and preparing the "Teens Top 10" list for Teen Read Week.
Another innovation was a new way of looking at serving teens in libraries. YALSA's collaboration with Patrick Jones moved our division in "New Directions,' literally, for library service to Y A's. This work continues through a task force that is working to provide direction on implementing the principles set forth in New Directions for Library Se/Vices to Young Adults; reviewing and revising the YALSA competencies, recommending topics for the YALSA Continuing Education Portfolio, and considering other innovative approaches towards implementing this initiative.
As part of the larger ALA Web site, YALSA also took time to revamp its Web site. Linda Braun, YALSA's Web Manager, designed a new look for the site and worked with staff to move existing pages into the new content management system. A new slide show offers a continually changing view of the work of YALSA members, and shows both adults and teens having a great time at ALA conferences and at their local libraries.
As this is being written, we are anticipating great programs in Toronto at Annual 2003. Our collaboration with the Canadian Library Association's youth interest groups and round tables means that a whole new audience will be joining us for programs about immigrant teens, helping young adults find the author within them, and discovering the best ways to booktalk nonfiction. Programs on audio books, the intellectual freedom component of reading fantasy, and a session on teens and technology round out the offerings this year. There is a pre- conference on poetry, echoing the Teen Read Week theme for 2003. Meeting authors and hearing poetry collected from teens will provide a great segue into this national literacy event taking place for the sixth year October 19-25, 2003.
As my term winds down, there is more to come! Our Graphic Novels Award Task Force is just starting its work to determine whether a "best graphic novels" list might be helpful to those librarians wrestling with collection development with this intriguing genre. In the next few weeks we will be selecting the winners of the next round of Excellence in Library Service to Young Adults grants. It never stops because Y ALSA never stops, and our members will never stop including teens in every aspect of their work. I thank the YALSA membership for allowing me to lead the division this year and I hope to be able to contribute in other ways once my term as president is done.