2008 Annual Council Actions

ALA Council I

Sunday, June 29, 2008

10:45am-12:15pm

Anaheim Convention Center, Ballroom B/C

Anaheim, CA

 

ADOPTED, ALA CD#2.1, 2008 ALA Midwinter Council Minutes.

 

APPROVED, The following slate of candidates for the 2008-2009 Council Committee on Committees Election: Gladys Smiley Bell; Timothy P. Grimes; Locke J. Morrisey; Shelley Brightman Walchak; Thomas L. Wilding; Hector Marino; Elizabeth (Beth) E. Bingham; Pamela J. Hickson-Stevenson.  Ria E. Newhouse and Frances R. Roscello were nominated from the Council floor.

 

APPROVED, The following slate of candidates for the 2008-2008 Planning and Budget Assembly Election: Councilors-at-Large: Allene F. Hayes; Barbara R. Miller; Charles Leslie Pace; Liana H. Zhou; Sarah I. Flowers; and Elaine M. Harger.

Chapter Councilors: Cynthia Czesak; Suzanne Sager; David Gunckel; James J. Campbell; Karen Gonzales; and Pamela K. Klipsch.

 

ADOPTED, ALA CD#6.2, ALA Policy 5.3, Council Resolutions: Guidelines for Preparation of Resolutions to Council, as amended to read:

 

“The following guidelines are addressed to individuals and units preparing resolutions to come before Council.

 

Definition: A resolution is a main motion, phrased formally, with (a) whereas clauses, (stating the background and reasons for a proposed policy, advocacy position, or action), followed by (b) Resolved clauses in numbered order (stating the proposed policy, advocacy position, or action).

 

CONTENT:

1.       A resolution must be complete so that, upon passage, it becomes a clear and formal expression of the opinion or will of the assembly.

 

2.     Resolutions, including memorials, tributes, and testimonials, must show the initiating unit, mover, and seconder and provide specific contact information from submitting parties. A resolution without a sponsor will not be presented.

 

 

3.     The resolution should address a specific topic or issue, use concise direct language, conform to proper grammar, and present an affirmative identifiable action.

 

4.     The terms used in a resolution should be readily understandable or have specific definitions.

 

 

5.     The intent, objective or goal of the resolution should be clear and purposeful.

 

6.     Resolutions should clearly support ALA’s mission, core values and/or strategic directions.

 

 

7.     All whereas clauses that relate to an ALA policy, must include a parenthetical notation of the title of the policy and the section where it can be found in the ALA Handbook of Organization.

 

8.     If the resolution calls for specific action or program with a timetable, the timetable shall be clear and achievable.

 

 

9.     Resolved clauses at the end of a resolution gain in clarity, brevity and are easier to read by following the resolution methodology of Congress and other deliberative bodies.  The new suggested wording states the resolved phrase only once: “Now therefore be it resolved by the [acting body, e.g. ALA, some committee etc.], that…” after which each separate resolved is stated directly in numbered order without repeating “be it resolved by…”.

 

10.  All ‘Resolved” clauses within a resolution should also use the objective, rather than the subjunctive (e.g.  “Now therefore be it resolved by the [American Library Association], that, 1. Supports… 2. Provides ...” NOT the subjunctive form of the verb  “Resolved that the American Library Association, 1. Support… 2. Provide…”)

 

11.   If the resolution is addressed to or refers to a specific group or groups, it shall name in full the group or groups in both the ‘resolved’ and ‘whereas’ clauses followed by the acronym in parenthesis. Thereafter the acronym may be used.

 

 

PROCESS:

1.       All resolutions submitted by Council members must be sent to the ALA Resolutions Committee for review and must be accompanied by a completed ALA Resolution Form.

 

2.     All resolutions must be submitted by either a voting member of Council or an ALA Committee chair; memorial resolutions, tributes, and testimonials are exempted.

 

3.     All resolutions, including memorials, tributes, and testimonials, must show the initiating unit, mover, and seconder. Local telephone numbers must be given for movers and seconders.

 

 

4.     Resolutions must be submitted 24 hours prior to presentation to Council to allow time for reproduction and distribution. If there are fewer than 24 hours between the adjournment of Council II and the convening hour of Council III, resolutions may be submitted within 90 minutes following adjournment of Council II.

 

5.     The Resolutions Committee must submit to the Executive Director and the Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC) all resolutions deemed to have fiscal implications at least 24 hours before they appear on the Council agendas so that BARC can provide fiscal information as required in by ALA policy. Standing committees of ALA and Council presenting resolutions to Council will follow the same process of submission to the Executive Director and BARC. Committee resolutions need no second.

 

6.     Memorial resolutions, tributes, and testimonials are submitted to the Resolutions Committee but as not reviewed by the Committee. They will be presented to Council at the beginning of the last session of Council at each Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference, and to the Membership at the beginning of the last Membership Meeting at each Annual Conference:

a.                  If copies are to be sent to other parties, the maker of the resolution shall provide names and addresses.

b.                 The Presiding officer will read the names of persons/organizations recognized by a formal resolution; the names will be displayed on the screen and copies of each resolution will be available at the information table.

c.                  American Libraries will carry an annual "memorial page" listing those members who have died since the preparation of the previous Conference Program.

 

7.     All members are urged to submit a resolution or resolutions prior to the Annual Conference or Midwinter Council meetings by communicating the resolution to the chair of Resolutions Committee through electronic mail.

 

8.     The Executive Director shall disseminate all adopted resolutions to identified and pertinent parties. Dissemination should occur as soon as possible, and not to exceed one month without explanation of the Executive Director to Council.”

 

ALA Council II, 9:15am-12:45pm

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Anaheim Convention Center, Ballroom B/C

Anaheim, CA

ADOPTED, the following four (4) action items contained in ALA CD#17.1, Policy Monitoring Committee (PMC) Report:

 

Item #1.  Consistency of language denoting the library profession.  It was brought to the attention of PMC that the ALA Policy Manual utilizes a number of different terms and phrases to describe the profession.  At Midwinter, 2008, Council approved an effort to regularize this terminology to “Library and Information Studies” unless use of the term might be awkward or misleading.   In examining the occurrences in the Policy Manual, PMC found no instances in which terminology denoting the profession could not be changed to “Library and Information Studies” while still retaining readability and comprehensibility.   Accordingly, PMC recommends the following changes in the ALA Policy Manual:

 

54.1, paragraph 2:  CHANGE “librarianship” TO “library and information studies”

 

54.2.1:  CHANGE “master’s degree in library science” TO “master’s degree in library and information studies.”

 

54.2.2.   CHANGE “master's degree in librarianship" TO “master’s degree in library and information studies.”

 

55.4, Heading:  CHANGE “Standards of Accreditation in Library Education: Appeals Procedure” TO “Standards of Accreditation in Library and Information Studies:  Appeals Procedure.”  

 

55.4, line 1: CHANGE “An institution of library education" to “A graduate program in library and information studies”

 

56.1, Heading:  CHANGE "Graduate Programs in Library Education" TO “Graduate Programs in Library and Information Studies.”

 

56.1, paragraph 1:  CHANGE "graduate library/information science educational programs" TO “graduate programs in library and information studies (LIS)”

 

56.1, paragraph 2:  DELETE “(LIS)”

     

56.2: CHANGE "ALA-accredited programs of library science..." to “ALA-accredited programs of library and information studies.”

 

60.5, Heading:  CHANGE "Library Education" TO “Library and Information Studies Education”

 

60.5, line 2/3:  CHANGE “graduate library and information science programs” TO “Graduate programs in library and information studies”

 

Item #2.  Updating Policy 55.4.  In the process of examining policies for terminology, PMC noted the following wording as the last sentence of Policy 55.4, Standards of Accreditation in Library Education: Appeals Procedure:  “The details of the appeals procedure shall be adopted by the Executive Board as implementation of this policy, and the procedure shall be a part of the information supplied to institutions participating in the accreditation process.”  

 

It has been determined that the appeals procedures were adopted by the Executive Board in January 2003.  PMC recommends that the final sentence of 55.4 be deleted and replaced with:  “Details regarding the appeals procedure shall be supplied to all programs participating in the accreditation process.” 


 

Item #3. Placement of revisions to the Code of Ethics (ALA Policy 40.2)

At Midwinter, 2008, Council approved several revisions to the ALA Code of Ethics.   In the document passed by Council, the sections of the Code were numbered as “ARTICLE X, ARTICLE Y, etc.,” while the Code itself uses the numbering “1), 2), etc.”  PMC regards this difference as an editorial matter only, and has substituted the existing numbering system for the one used in the Council document.  Otherwise, the changes put forth here are exactly as passed by Council.  PMC recommends the following changes to Policy 40.2:

 

3):  DELETE the current wording and REPLACE WITH:  “We protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted.”

 

4):  DELETE the current wording and REPLACE WITH: “We respect intellectual property rights and advocate balance between the interests of information users and rights holders.”

 

5):  DELETE the current wording and REPLACE WITH:  “We treat co-workers and other colleagues with respect, fairness, good faith, and advocate conditions of employment that safeguard the rights and welfare of all employees of our institutions.”

 

Item #4.  Revised Council Resolutions: Guidelines for Preparation of Resolutions to Council (ALA Policy 5.3).  At Council I, Annual Conference 2008, Council approved new guidelines to aid councilors in the preparation of resolutions.  PMC recommends that the following text be substituted for the text that currently appears as policy 5.3:

5.3 Council Resolutions: Guidelines for Preparation of Resolutions to Council.  The following guidelines are addressed to individuals and units preparing resolutions to come before Council.

 

Definition: A resolution is a main motion, phrased formally, with (a) whereas clauses, (stating the background and reasons for a proposed policy, advocacy position, or action), followed by (b) Resolved clauses in numbered order (stating the proposed policy, advocacy position, or action).

 

CONTENT:

1. A resolution must be complete so that, upon passage, it becomes a clear and formal expression of the opinion or will of the assembly.

 

2. Resolutions, including memorials, tributes, and testimonials, must show the initiating unit, mover, and seconder and provide specific contact information from submitting parties. A resolution without a sponsor will not be presented.

 

3. The resolution should address a specific topic or issue, use concise direct language, conform to proper grammar, and present an affirmative identifiable action.

 

4. The terms used in a resolution should be readily understandable or have specific definitions.

 

5. The intent, objective or goal of the resolution should be clear and purposeful.

 

6. Resolutions should clearly support ALA’s mission, core values and/or strategic directions.

 

7. All whereas clauses that relate to an ALA policy, must include a parenthetical notation of the title of the policy and the section where it can be found in the ALA Handbook of Organization.

 

8. If the resolution calls for specific action or program with a timetable, the timetable shall be clear and achievable.

 

9. Resolved clauses at the end of a resolution gain in clarity, brevity and are easier to read by following the resolution methodology of Congress and other deliberative bodies.  The new suggested wording states the resolved phrase only once: “Now therefore be it resolved by the [acting body, e.g. ALA, some committee etc.], that…” after which each separate resolved is stated directly in numbered order without repeating “be it resolved by…”.

 

10. All ‘Resolved” clauses within a resolution should also use the objective, rather than the subjunctive (e.g.  “Now therefore be it resolved by the [American Library Association], that, 1. Supports… 2. Provides ...” NOT the subjunctive form of the verb  “Resolved that the American Library Association, 1. Support… 2. Provide…”)

 

11. If the resolution is addressed to or refers to a specific group or groups, it shall name in full the group or groups in both the ‘resolved’ and ‘whereas’ clauses followed by the acronym in parenthesis. Thereafter the acronym may be used.

 

PROCESS:

1. All resolutions submitted by Council members must be sent to the ALA Resolutions Committee for review and must be accompanied by a completed ALA Resolution Form.

 

2. All resolutions must be submitted by either a voting member of Council or an ALA Committee chair; memorial resolutions, tributes, and testimonials are exempted.

 

3. All resolutions, including memorials, tributes, and testimonials, must show the initiating unit, mover, and seconder. Local telephone numbers must be given for movers and seconders.

 

4. Resolutions must be submitted 24 hours prior to presentation to Council to allow time for reproduction and distribution. If there are fewer than 24 hours between the adjournment of Council II and the convening hour of Council III, resolutions may be submitted within 90 minutes following adjournment of Council II.

 

5. The Resolutions Committee must submit to the Executive Director and the Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC) all resolutions deemed to have fiscal implications at least 24 hours before they appear on the Council agendas so that BARC can provide fiscal information as required in by ALA policy. Standing committees of ALA and Council presenting resolutions to Council will follow the same process of submission to the Executive Director and BARC. Committee resolutions need no second.

 

6. Memorial resolutions, tributes, and testimonials are submitted to the Resolutions Committee but as not reviewed by the Committee. They will be presented to Council at the beginning of the last session of Council at each Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference, and to the Membership at the beginning of the last Membership Meeting at each Annual Conference:

d.                  If copies are to be sent to other parties, the maker of the resolution shall provide names and addresses.

e.                  The Presiding officer will read the names of persons/organizations recognized by a formal resolution; the names will be displayed on the screen and copies of each resolution will be available at the information table.

f.                  American Libraries will carry an annual "memorial page" listing those members who have died since the preparation of the previous Conference Program.

 

7. All members are urged to submit a resolution or resolutions prior to the Annual Conference or Midwinter Council meetings by communicating the resolution to the chair of Resolutions Committee through electronic mail.

 

8. The Executive Director shall disseminate all adopted resolutions to identified and pertinent parties. Dissemination should occur as soon as possible, and not to exceed one month without explanation of the Executive Director to Council.

 

APPROVED, the proposal to restructure corporate membership by establishing two levels of corporate membership dues, $500 and $2,000, to take effect on September 1, 2008; and that ALA Council requests the Policy Monitoring Committee to revise policy 12, section 2, to read: “Corporate Members: Level 1: $500; Level 2: $2,000.” (ALA CD#10, ALA Membership Committee Report)

 

APPROVED, The FY2009 Total ALA Budgetary Ceiling of $67,984,278 (ALA CD#13.3, ALA Treasurer’s Report)

 

REFERRED, To the ALA Committee on Legislation, ALA CD#53, Resolution on Improving the Federal Depository Library Program and Public Access to Government Information, which read:  “That the American Library Association (ALA) urges the Government Printing Office (GPO) to give priority to expanding the scope of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) collection by capturing a greater percentage of digital and print fugitive government information products; urges the GPO to develop a plan to expand partnerships for digital retrospective conversion and born digital capture with standards based curation; urges the GPO and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to accept and archive digital copies resulting from cooperative government information digitization efforts; urges the GPO to explore within current law all options for cooperative collection development and maintenance, including shared housing agreements between regional depositories and selective depositories; urges the GPO to create an inventory of all government publications held in depository libraries; urges the GPO to coordinate depository library cataloging projects for pre-1976 and fugitive publications, and to incorporate them into the Catalog of Government Publications (CGP); urges the GPO to carry out a series of focused studies that together provide a comprehensive accounting of the issues facing the FDLP and the participating libraries; and urges Congress to allocate sufficient appropriations to GPO to undertake these initiatives.”

 

ADOPTED, ALA CD#56, Resolution on Support for Funding for Cataloging and Bibliographic Control at the Library of Congress, which read:  “That the American Library Association (ALA) urges the Library of Congress to devote more resources to the training of professional bibliographic access librarians, both those employed at the Library of Congress and in other American libraries; that the ALA Executive Director instruct the Washington Office to advocate the petition for increased federal funding to support the work of bibliographic control at the Library of Congress by filling and expanding the number of bibliographic access positions; and that the ALA Executive Director instruct the Washington Office to communicate this message in discussions with members of Congress and others.”

 

ADOPTED, ALA CD#57, Resolution Supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which read: “That the American Library Association (ALA) calls for the reinstatement in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) of protections for transgender persons from employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression; and ALA calls for passage of H.R.2015 or other inclusive version of ENDA by both Houses of Congress.”

 

ADOPTED, ALA CD#58, Resolution Concerning ALA Policy Opposing Sweatshop Labor and Support Union Businesses, as amended to read:  “That the American Library Association (ALA) and its divisions, round tables, and all other units should purchase all products for distribution to membership from sweatshop free producers; and that this resolution and information about how to comply with it shall be distributed to all ALA divisions, round tables, all other units and ALA staff.”

 

ALA Council III

Wednesday, July 2, 8:00am-12:30pm

Anaheim Convention Center, Ballroom B/C

Anaheim, CA

 

ADOPTED, The following memorials: Carol Combs Hole, M-#5 and Ellen Ruth McCrady, M-#6.

 

ADOPTED, The following tributes: Library Support Staff Interest Round Table (LSSIRT) 15th Anniversary, T-#3; Gail McGovern, T-#4; San Jose School of Library Information Science, T-#5, Barbara Walden, T-#6; and Lois Ann Gregory-Wood, T-#7.

 

ELECTED, To the 2008-2009 Council Committee on Committees: Gladys Smiley Bell; Pamela J. Hickson-Stevenson; Frances R. Roscello; and Thomas L. Wilding.

 

ELECTED, To the 2008-2009 Planning and Budget Assembly.  Chapter Representatives: Cynthia Czesak (1-year term 2008-2009 to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Jackie Griffin from the ALA Council); Karen Gonzales (2-year term 2008-2010); and Pamela K. Klipsch (2-year term 2008-2010).

 

ELECTED, To the 2008-2009 Planning and Budget Assembly.  At-Large Representatives for 2-year term (2008-2010):  Elaine M. Harger; Barbara R. Miller; and Charles Leslie Pace.

 

ADOPTED, The following four (4) ALA Constitution and Bylaws amendments as identified in ALA CD#25.1, ALA Constitution and Bylaws Committee Report:

 

Item #1.  To accept the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) as an affiliate under Article X of the ALA Constitution.

 

Item #2.  To accept the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services     (ABOS) as an affiliate under Article X of the ALA Constitution.

 

Item #3.  That the ALA Constitution Article VIII, Section 2. Vacancy. Revised to read: “a. President-elect.  When a vacancy occurs in the office of president-elect, or when an elected incoming president-elect withdraws or is unable to serve before the assumption of office, then the Executive Board shall appoint an individual to serve in such office, or to assume such office, subject to a confirmation mail vote by Council.  Until the individual is confirmed by Council, they shall serve in an acting capacity.

 

b. Treasurer. When a vacancy occurs in the office of treasurer, or when an elected incoming treasurer withdraws or is unable to serve before the assumption of office, then the Executive Board shall appoint an individual to serve in such office, or to assume such office, subject to a confirmation mail vote by Council.  Until the individual is confirmed by Council, they shall serve in an acting capacity.  The position of treasurer shall be filled by regular election at the next election, unless at the time of appointment the next regular election is less than four (4) months away, in which case the position of treasurer shall be filled at the following election.”

 

Item#4. ALA Constitution Article VIII, Section 5, Terms of Office.  Revised to read:  “All officers and elected members of the Executive Board shall serve until the adjournment of the Annual Conference that follows the selection of their successors.”

 

APPROVED, the revisions to the following six (6) Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights:

1.       Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Sex, Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation, ALA CD#19.2;

2.       Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Media Programs, ALA CD#19.3;

3.       Diversity in Collection Development, ALA CD#19.4;

       4.       Evaluating Library Collections, ALA CD#19.5;

          5.       Expurgation of Library Materials, ALA CD#19.6; and

6.                 Free Access to Libraries for Minors, ALA CD#19.7

 

VOTED, To replace ALA CD#44, Resolution on the Confiscation of Iraqi Documents from the Iraq National Library and Archives, adopted January 16, 2008, which read: “That ALA condemns the confiscation of documents from the Iraq National Library and Archive by the Unites States and British forces and strongly advocates the immediate return of all documents; and that ALA calls for the United States Government to honor the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Second Protocol.”

 

with

 

ALA CD#18.2, Resolution on the Confiscation of Iraqi Documents, which read: “That ALA condemns the confiscation of all seized documents from Iraq and strongly advocates the immediate return of those documents to the people of Iraq; and that ALA calls for the United States Government to honor the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Second Protocol.”

 

VOTED, To revise the composition of the Committee on Accreditation as follows:

“The Committee on Accreditation shall be composed of twelve members including the chair.  There shall be nine members at large, two public members who are neither members of ALA nor librarians, and one individual from the Canadian library community who is appointed in consultation with the Canadian Library Association.  Each public member shall be appointed for a two-year term, which may be renewed once.  Each of the other members shall be appointed for non-renewable four-year terms.  All terms shall be staggered.  No member may serve more than four years. To qualify as a public member, a person must not have enrolled in library and information studies coursework, been employed in a library, served as a library trustee, or been a member of the American Library Association or other library associations.” (ALA 2007-2008 ALA CD#27.1, Committee on Organization Report)

 

ADOPTED, ALA CD#20.8, Resolution in Support of the National Agricultural Library (NAL), which read:  “That the American Library Association urges the United States Congress to fund NAL for FY2009 at the $22 million level recommended by the House Agricultural Subcommittee; and that the American Library Association incorporate our four national libraries (National Agricultural Library (NAL); National Library of Education (NLE); National Library of Medicine (NLM); and the National Transportation Library (NTL) in the @Your Library campaign to raise the awareness of the value of our national libraries to the ALA’s membership and the American public.”

 

ADOPTED, ALA CD#20.9, Resolution on the E-Government Reauthorization Act of 2007 (S.2321), which read: “That the American Library Association urges Congress to re-emphasize its commitment to support the role of libraries in the delivery of E-Government services; supports the measures outlined in the E-Government Reauthorization Act of 2007 (S.2321) for the Director of the OMB to provide guidance and best practices to ensure availability of public on-line federal government information and services; supports language in the E-Government Reauthorization Act of 2007 to mirror the language in Section 213 of the E-Government Act of 2002 which recognizes the critical role public libraries play in providing E-Government services to the American public; urges Congress to authorize adequate funding to support the role of libraries in the delivery of E-Government services as expressed in Section 213 of the E-Government Act of 2002;and supports the measures outlined in the E-Government Reauthorization Act of 2007 that will ensure compliance by federal agencies with the guidelines outlined by the OMB.”

 

ADOPTED, ALA CD#20.10, Resolution in Support of Preservation and Access to the Audio Heritage, which read: “That the American Library Association urges Members of the U.S. Congress to charge the U.S. Copyright Office to conduct a study on the desirability of bringing sound recordings before February 15, 1972, under federal jurisdiction.”

 

ADOPTED, ALA CD#55, Resolution Adopting the Definitions of Digital Preservation, which read: “That the American Library Association adopts the definitions of digital preservation and the revised Preservation Policy for use on the web, verbally, in written policy statements, and other documents.”


 

ADOPTED, ALA CD#59, Resolution on Expanding Council Transparency, which read: “That Council instructs the ALA Executive Director:

 

1.                   Explore methods of making Council proceedings transparent to the ALA membership;

2.                 Report back to ALA Council at Midwinter 2009; and

3.                 Request user input, to gauge interest and to help guide future efforts in making the business of the Association more visible to the membership.