ALA Annual Starts This Friday
Unfortunetly I won’t be there at all. At the most I had hoped to go just for Saturday but I’m in the middle of a couple of big projects right now and I just can’t do it.
If you are going I urge to go to the Membership Meeting and open forum Saturday afternoon:
Should ALA Take a Stand on the War in Iraq?
Should ALA take a stand on the war in Iraq, the minimum wage, or library workers in Cuba? What is a “non-library” issue? On one hand we don’t have enough time to consider fully issues like the closing of libraries and library staff wages. On the other we are not just our jobs, and many issues affect us and our families and co-workers. Where do we draw the line? Make sure your voice is heard! Attend Membership Forum and Meeting I, Saturday, June 23, 3:30-5:00pm.
It would seem like the perfect thing for me to go to so I apoligize for not being there, despite what I said in April. On the other hand its not about me, let’s see if an honest conversation can be had on this topic without me holding their feet to the fire. So far it doesn’t look good. Council has been debating the issue online, either mulling that seeming inponderable “what’s a library issue?” or trying to pooh-pooh the whole deal by saying it only takes up a small amount of Council’s time. As if insulting half the country is okay as long as its done quickly.
As to what makes a library issue… say it with me and say it often:
“If it isn’t something I would bring up at a staff meeting, a trustees meeting, or a town hall meeting when speaking for my library then its not something that should be brought up at ALA.”
There does seem to be some thought about changing ALA, via Shifted. Its techie oriented and the word ‘green’ pops up a lot in the wiki but you never know. A lot will depend on how thick their skin is when dealing with the SRRT types.
June 17th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Hmm, I wish I had seen that statement before, the one about if it is not something to bring up at the staff, trustee, or town hall meeting, then don’t do it at ALA. With so many actual library issues, and so many actual library issues right here in our backyard, why is our professional organization seems fixated on broad political issues. If I wanted that, I would join a PAC or something.
As for the thoughts about changing ALA, seems a lot of stuff to keep or make the 2.0 ubergeeks happy, you know, the ones who say those not with them simply don’t get it. So, I am very skeptical on that, but as you say, one never knows.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Do you know why the archives is no longer available? How can people read the discussions going on in Council? There is less transparency now.
This link doesn’t work anymore:
http://lp-web.ala.org:8000/guest/archives/ALACOUN/
June 19th, 2007 at 11:37 am
The ALACOUN archives are now here:
http://lists.ala.org/wws/arc/alacoun
June 19th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Thank you Mr. Stephens.
June 19th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Hm… I never considered myself a 2.0 ubergeek, but thanks
Are you 100% happy with / accepting of how ALA does what it does? Is ALA doing what it should? I personally think there is a lot of mission creep going on in the big scheme of things at ALA.
Too much ALA time is being spent upon subjects that would not come up in a staff, trustee, or town hall meeting.
I would like to see that change (heck, I would like to help make that change through reasoned discussion) and I’m willing to put my time and my conference attending money where my mouth is.
My personal problem is I don’t know where the pain points are for most people, I only know what bugs me. If a critical mass of people will hash out and inform a group of willing change agents of what needs fixed in ALA, we could make some meaningful, lasting reforms that might help ALA shake off it’s moribund image.
Sure there’s lots of stuff being done and some of it well, but does the association do what we, the members, want it to?
June 21st, 2007 at 10:19 pm
I believe ALA should support library workers in Cuba, to answer part of the question.