Greg McClay for ALA Councilor-at-Large

     The American Library Association has made it a sad time to be a Librarian. But you can either ignore the problem or try and fix the problem. I'm game if you are.

     The resolutions on torture, the War in Iraq, and using President Bush as a punching bag are all excuses to not deal with real library issues. On the few occasions ALA does address real issues it is from such extreme political positions as to be offensive to the majority of Americans we serve.

     I'm not asking you, as a voter, to be conservative or as conservative as I am. I am asking you to support a change in ALA. An attempt to bring some balance, some clear thinking, back to the organization and to put a stop to the political party atmosphere that has turned ALA into a sideshow.

     There's over 60,000 members of ALA but only 10,000 voted in the last election and it takes at least a third of that to guarantee a Council spot. I need at least 3300 people to vote for me in 2006. If possible I'd like a 1000 people to be members who haven't voted before and 100 to be new members who joined in order to vote. New people with a fresh attitude, people who respect what they do and take pride in it enough to want their national organization to shine.

     So its not enough to say you'll vote for me. You have to get the word out. Let people know there is an alternative. I want every ALA member to know I'm running. I want every member of every state organization to know I'm running. Let's bring back a little dignity and self-respect to the American Library Association.