ALA Midwinter is almost upon us. I will not be attending it this year. However, it is where a lot of the campaigning for ALA and Division offices takes place.
I'll be blogging about the candidates for ALA President in a separate post, as I have in past years. I'll also take a look at the Council candidates list.
I belong to several divisions, and recently received the issue of the newsletter listing the candidates. And, what a great crop of candidates! In this case the Division is the newest named division: United for Libraries.
First a bit of history. United for Libraries was formed by the merger of the ALA division ALTA -- Association for Library Trustees and Advocates which then became ALTAFF, Association for Library Trustees Advocates, Friends, and Foundations -- with the independent FOLUSA -- Friends of Libraries USA. Over the years I have belonged to one, the other, and occasionally both. The merger makes sense, but that is not the topic.
While on the ALA Executive Board, one of my liaison assignments was to what was then ALTA. I always enjoyed working with the wonderful folks who were working so hard to advocate for libraries.
This year, in addition to candidates for President and Secretary/Treasurer, UFL is electing a division councilor and board members. For the board positions, they are putting up only the number of candidates to fill the vacancies.
For what ALA Council does, see my (now old) post on ALA governance.
The candidates for Vice-President/President-Elect are both people I know and respect. It will be a hard choice for me. One candidate is Christine Hage who I know from activity on PUBLIB, ALA Council, and PLA. While it is not mentioned in the UFL write-up, my recollection is that she has served as PLA (Public Library Association) President. That experience would stand her in good stead in this position.The other candidate is someone whose skill I respect greatly. Peter Pearson is the President (i.e., "head honcho" or chief paid employee) for the Friends of the St. Paul (MN) Public Library. He has led the organization to be one of the premier public library support organizations. He was my inspiration when I was in Bridgeport (CT) and worked to help re-start the Friends group there. When I got to Eau Claire, I found that he had been very helpful in setting up and guiding that organization over the years.
The Division Councilor candidates include the incumbent, Susan Schmidt and Nann Blaine Hilyard. I can't claim to know Susan well, but I know that she has done a good job (based on electronic postings) in reporting to UFL. Nann is someone I know very well. She is very active on PUBLIB. That is where I first "met" her, and I think that we actually first met in person at a social event organized on that list. Since then, we both served on ALA Council together. We also served on the ALA Executive Board together.
For me, this will be a tough decision.
The other parts in this series, will include a discussion of ALA Council candidates as well as one posting about the ALA President campaign.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
MBWA - Yes it works
Today is a day off, and I was indulging one of my newer guilty pleasures: reality television.
On our last trip to Panama, we found the UK version of Undercover Boss on the cable/dish TV one rainy afternoon in the mountains. The premise of the show is that the owner/CEO of a larger corporation goes "undercover" for a week (5 days) doing some of the front-line jobs in order to learn more about how the company is currently providing service. One of the shows from the UK that I remember was about a fish and chips chain, and some of the stores were in English resort towns. After the week undercover duty, the CEO does a reveal to the individual managers and then to all the folks at the facility.
Today, I was watching TLC and the US version of the show. Unfortunately, I could not find a list of the shows and a link to the one which impressed me.
That show was about Hooters, the restaurant chain. There is an article about the show, but it does not talk about what impressed me.
First of all, Hooters makes its own sauces. That plant was "the baby" of the founder of the company. When he died, one of his sons was suddenly, and unexpectedly, thrust into being in charge of the company. The CEO (son of the founder) made a visit to the plant as part of his undercover experience. What he heard from the employees there, including the plant manager who was a family friend, was that morale was not good. This was partly the result of the fact that folks from the management were no longer visiting the plant. The plant workers felt appreciated by the attention, limited as it was, by having the CEO publicly visit the plant and walk the floor.
This "management by wandering around" (MBWA) is what caught my attention. MBWA is a management practice that can be very important, not just in larger organizations. As a manager, even of a single location organization, I found that it was important to get out of the office and see what was really happening. I also found out things that I might not have heard otherwise. When I was in someone's regular workspace they would sometime tell me things that they thought were not important enough to bring up to my office. It also helped me to visually be able to understand the physical spaces or items involved.
When I was in my MBA program, we did talk about this as one part of a style of management. But many librarians do not get any formal management training, so perhaps this tip will help a new manager somewhere.
On our last trip to Panama, we found the UK version of Undercover Boss on the cable/dish TV one rainy afternoon in the mountains. The premise of the show is that the owner/CEO of a larger corporation goes "undercover" for a week (5 days) doing some of the front-line jobs in order to learn more about how the company is currently providing service. One of the shows from the UK that I remember was about a fish and chips chain, and some of the stores were in English resort towns. After the week undercover duty, the CEO does a reveal to the individual managers and then to all the folks at the facility.
Today, I was watching TLC and the US version of the show. Unfortunately, I could not find a list of the shows and a link to the one which impressed me.
That show was about Hooters, the restaurant chain. There is an article about the show, but it does not talk about what impressed me.
First of all, Hooters makes its own sauces. That plant was "the baby" of the founder of the company. When he died, one of his sons was suddenly, and unexpectedly, thrust into being in charge of the company. The CEO (son of the founder) made a visit to the plant as part of his undercover experience. What he heard from the employees there, including the plant manager who was a family friend, was that morale was not good. This was partly the result of the fact that folks from the management were no longer visiting the plant. The plant workers felt appreciated by the attention, limited as it was, by having the CEO publicly visit the plant and walk the floor.
This "management by wandering around" (MBWA) is what caught my attention. MBWA is a management practice that can be very important, not just in larger organizations. As a manager, even of a single location organization, I found that it was important to get out of the office and see what was really happening. I also found out things that I might not have heard otherwise. When I was in someone's regular workspace they would sometime tell me things that they thought were not important enough to bring up to my office. It also helped me to visually be able to understand the physical spaces or items involved.
When I was in my MBA program, we did talk about this as one part of a style of management. But many librarians do not get any formal management training, so perhaps this tip will help a new manager somewhere.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Read and Listened to 2012
Here is the list for the whole year of 2012. Note that since I moved to Baton Rouge in July, and therefore stopped commuting such a long distance, I have taken out the sidebar for books listened to. While it seems like I should have more time, that does not seem so, for some reason. I also am now on a distribution list from major publisher, and am getting a fair number of ARC's (Advance Readers Copies) of books about to be published. That constitutes most of my hard copy reading.
So, here it goes! As in the past, there are in reverse chronological order (since that is how they appear on the sidebar).
Books 2012
So, here it goes! As in the past, there are in reverse chronological order (since that is how they appear on the sidebar).
Books 2012
-
Naples Declared: A walk around the bay by Benjamin TaylorARC
City of Women: A Novel by David R. Gillham ARC
The Yard: A Novel by Alex Grecian ARC
Grimus: a novel by Salman Rushdie
A Good American by Alex George ARC
No One Is Here Except All of Us by Ramona Ausubel ARC
The Republic of Pirates: Being the true and surprising story of the Caribbean pirates and the man who brought them down by Collin Woodard
Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha
Sons of Providence: The Brown Brothers, the Slave Trade, and the American Revolution by Charles Rappleye
The Wednesday Letters: A Novel by Jason F. Wright
The Invisible Ones: A Novel by Stef Penney ARC
-
Fifty Shades Freed E L James
Fifty Shades Darker E L James
Fifty Shades of Grey E L James
Impaired: A Nurse's Story of Addiction and Recovery by Patricia Holloran
Tantrika : Traveling the Road of Divine Love by Asra Nomani
Ninety Days: A Memoir of Recovery by Bill Clegg
Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man: A Memoir by Bill Clegg
Living Oprah : My One-Year Experiment to Walk the Walk of the Queen of Talk by Robyn Okrant
Hunger Games (Trilogy) Suzanne Collins
The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
We actually bought this by mistake, but I decided to read it anyway.
The 100 Thing challenge : How I Got Rid of Almost Everything, Remade My Life, and Regained My Soul by Dave Bruno
Riding in the shadows of saints : A Woman's Story of Motorcycling the Mormon Trail by Jana Richman
I'm off then : Losing and Finding Myself on the Camino de Santiago by Hape Kerkeling
The Addict : One Patient, One Doctor, One Year by Michael Stein
Whip smart : A Memoir by Melissa Febos
My Year with Eleanor: A Memoir by Noelle Hancock
-
Walt Disney: The triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler, read by Arthur Morey
chapter and hearse by Catherine Aird, read by Bruce Montague
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, read by Simon Vance
The Art of Presence by Eckhart Tolle
Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich, read by C. J. Critts
Lots of NPR on both WWNO and WRKF
Neither station covers my whole trip. I also sometimes listen to NPR Now on Sirius XM
The adventures of Sherlock Holmes [radio dramatization] by Arthur Conan Doyle, a BBC Radio 4 full cast dramatization
[Vol. 1. A scandal in Bohemia -- The red-headed league -- A case of identity -- The Boscombe Valley mystery]
The shack by William P. Young, read by Roger Mueller
Secrets of the Great Investors: Money Managers and Mutual Funds read by Louis Rukeyser
A patron complained that the title and description did not match the contents. He is right. This should be called "A Brief History of America's Banking System."
Monday, January 07, 2013
ALA's Motto
There has been a discussion lately about the ALA Motto on the Facebook group ALA Think Tank. The discussion of the motto is not new. It took me a bit to finally ask the ALA offices for information on our discussion, since it was long enough ago that it is not easily findable on the ALA web site with the ALA Council documents. The resolution to abandon the motto took place at the ALA Midwinter Meeting of 2004 in San Diego. (It was my first Midwinter on the ALA Executive Board.)
Below is from the transcript of the ALA Council meeting. It is taken from a DOS based system, so some of the spacing may be "funky" even though I tried to strip all the formatting......otherwise here is what Lois Ann Gregory-Wood sent me. [I did correct a couple of misspellings/transcription errors. MAG]
For me, re-reading the debate/comments, it is interesting to see the combinations of folks on the two sides. For many of us, it was an unusual occurrence to be in agreement.
_____________________________
2003-2004 CD#57, Rescinding the ALA Motto (discussion at 04 Midwinter)
Whereas, the motto of the American Library Association, “The best reading, for the largest number, at the least cost,” was originally formulated in 1892, and is no longer adequately reflective of the aims, mission, and activities of the association; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the current ALA motto be removed from the ALA Handbook of Organization and from any other print or electronic documents in which it may be used, when those documents are next revised or reprinted.
Moved by Janet Swan Hill, Councilor-at-Large
Seconded by Michael Golrick, Executive Board Member
Here the captioned text from that discussion:
We will now take up new business, and they are taken in the order in which they were submitted. So I now refer you to ALA Council Document number 57. Resolution on rescinding the ALA motto. And would Janet Swan Hill go to the microphone and read only the resolved clause of document number 57.
Microphone number 3.
>> JANET SWAN HILL: Councilor-at-Large. Be it resolved that the American Library Association rescind its current motto. And be it further resolved that the current ALA motto be removed from the ALA handbook of organization and from any other print or electronic documents in which it may be used, when those documents are next revised or reprinted.
I hasten to say that this is not something that I consider as a passionate burning issue. I regard it more as housekeeping. When we were in the midst of discussing core values at some point recently, I was looking through the handbook and lo, on page 10, in our ALA handbook appears a motto that I have never ever ever seen used anywhere. Not only have I never seen it used anywhere, but the motto, "the best reading for the largest number at the least cost" seems to me to be not only seriously outdated and incomplete, but also paternalistic and condescending. It's my belief that after we finally finish the core values 2 task force and we come up with a statement of core values, we will be able to see a motto, should we think that one is necessary for the association, will grow out of that effort.
And I would like to have an empty space in which we can put that motto. And in the meantime. Not have ALA believe that its primary vision in this century is the best reading for the largest number at the least cost.
The reason I phrased the last resolved as I did was in order to decrease any financial impact this might possibly have. I did ask Lois Ann if she could think of anywhere it ever had been used and she could not. But on the possibility that it does appear somewhere on an ancient pile of stationery or something, that I wouldn't want us to go searching for it, but instead when we need to replenish that stationery or those cards or whatever, that at that point we make the revision to take the motto off. And this is seconded by Michael Golrick.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Discussion? Microphone number 1.
>> MICHAEL GOLRICK: Member of the Executive Board.
And I agree with everything that Janet said. I do want to point out a couple of historical tidbits of interest that were brought to my attention by ALA's newest honorary member, the esteemed Norman Horrocks, who noted that it was his action at the ALA Council in 1988 that restored its use, because it had disappeared even though it had never been officially undone. So, I think that in the interest of, as a charter member of the grammar caucus, and in the interest of accuracy, I support everything that Janet said, which is why I was more than happy.
As she noted, it appears on page 10 of your handbook. So far that is the only discernible place that we have been able to locate it. And I ask that you support this, with the idea that yes, when we get done with, and I dread mentioning those two words -- that two word phrase, core values, we will be able to write a motto that will be short, snappy, catchy and really reflect what the association stands for.
Thank you.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Microphone number 1.
>> NANN BLAINE HILYARD: Councilor-at-Large. I do remember an ALA annual meeting in 1988 when this was brought up and I remember that Marvin Scilken spoke to this eloquently. I don't know that ALA needs a motto. We have lots of short Pithy statements for our myriad public relations campaigns. I referred to one yesterday that you may or may not remember: What in the world does a librarian do? It's up to you. We have a lot of great snappy things in our arsenal and probably we don't need to have an official motto, as nice as this old one might be.
>> ELAINE HARGER: Councilor-at-Large. I also support this resolution. However, I do think that it's very important and given that, you know, many of us here have a great deal of appreciation for history and for what it tells us, even though this is a very quaint, outdated motto, it still embodies something that is still very important to this association and to every library. That we provide the best reading to the largest number of people at the least cost. And I think that that is something that, if we get rid of the motto, you know, that is fine with me. But I think that quaint and old as it is, it does remind us of something that we do value, that I think is still at the heart of our association.
So, in one sense I almost would vote against this, but I also understand that, you know, it's an old motto. We don't really need it. But we need to remember that it came from people who were working at a time when, you know, maybe providing good reading for the largest number of people at the least cost was a debate that they had. It was a debate that the association had. And somebody had to argue for it.
So, let's just remember that it is part of our core values.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Microphone number 6.
>> LORIENE ROY: Councilor-at-Large. I speak as probably the only person in the world who uses this motto.
( Laughter)
Which was written by Melville Dewey at the establishment of our association. And I use it in the context of a fall public libraries class, where the students look at this motto and create mottoes that carry us into the future. So...
(Applause.)
>> MICHAEL GORMAN: Councilor-at-Large. I'm probably the only person who is going to vote against this resolution.
>> No
>> No.
>> MICHAEL GORMAN: Because I don't mind who needs a motto, but the implied retreat from a commitment to reading and literacy, particularly following on a resolution which I had to hold my nose to vote for, because it contained a vial phrase "21st century literacy" you know, would that we had 19th century literacy.
( Laughter)
I believe that this association should, A, reinforce its standing commitment to true literacy; and, B, come up with another phrase entirely, not involving the use, the use of the word "Literacy" for competence in using computers.
>> SUE KAMM: Councilor-at-Large. I'd like to quote my favorite author, me. A number of years ago Pete Wilson, who was then the Governor of California, decided it would be fun to wire every single classroom in the state with Internet access.
And I said then and will say now, Internet access or any other kind of access does no good unless people can read the screen. So, I think that reading is -- that we need to keep promoting reading, and I urge the defeat of this resolution. Thank you.
(Applause.)
>> DANIEL O'CONNOR: Councilor-at-Large. I, too, urge the defeat of this resolution. I don't want to be so presumptive as to speak for Marvin Scilken, but he was an old friend of mine. And if he were here, I know he would have reminded us that circulation continues to climb across the country in our libraries, that book sales and bookstores are still thriving, and that why would we want to abandon a statement, a motto, that began this association? There is no reason to take action at this point in time. There is no reason at all for this resolution to come before us.
So I urge its defeat.
( Applause.)
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Microphone number 3.
>> ROBERTA STEVENS: Councilor-at-Large. I speak in support of rescinding the motto and remind everyone here that we just voted for programmatic priority on 21st century literacy.
>> CAROLYN CAYWOOD: IFRT Councilor. I'm happy to keep the reading, it's the "least cost" that sticks in my craw. I would like to see our salaries go up.
>> I never noticed this motto before. But I love it.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Identify yourself.
>> ELLEN SLOTOROFF ZYROFF: Councilor-at-Large. I never noticed that we had this motto. I think it's great. I think it was great then. I think it's great now. I think best reading does not necessarily just apply to books, if it's the implication here. It can be taken as a metaphor for what we do today, including the electronic and all the values and efficiencies that we are looking for. I think it's great. It would be terrible to delete it now.
>> IMMED. PAST PRES. MAURICE FREEDMAN: I'm going to speak against it also. And in response to the fifth priority, I think we can be for literacy, even if it's not 21st century literacy. And we can be for reading books, even if it's not 21st century literacy. Or if it is part of 21st century literacy. And this is the kind of thing Marvin would have really crusaded for, because he liked the Ranganathan thing, for reading the right book. I can't do it right. Michael Gorman I'm sure will do it better. But I thank Councilor Gorman for turning the tide on this. And I urge everybody to stick with something that we did in 18 -- we, Mr. Dewey, famous sexist, anti-Semite, racist, but he did something good for us. I'd like to keep that part of Mr. Dewey's legacy. But it's a good one and we should continue it. Thank you.
>> WYMA ROGERS: Oregon Chapter Councilor. I'm speaking in favor of this. I'm just fascinated that there is such passionate support for a motto that people have forgotten all about twice.
( Laughter)
That it had to be brought back in 1988, to be forgotten again.
( Laughter)
Clearly it doesn't do anything for us or our association. So, I am in favor of rescinding it.
>> CAROL BARTA: Kansas Chapter Councilor. I speak against the rescinding of the motion, for the very fact that the reason that so many of us forgot this existed is because it's embedded in the very marrow of your bones. Do we not all do these exact things as we work in our libraries, promote reading, Wring that last penny out of our budgets so we can provide the best things for the patrons? This is the deepest core value of our librarians than I can imagine. And I think it's what most of us live for, whether we are conscious of it or not.
( Applause)
>> JAMES CASEY: Councilor-at-Large. I move to end debate.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: A second?
>> Second.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Second over there. All in favor of ending discussion and debate? Please raise your hands.
( Showing of hands.)
All opposed?
(Showing of hands.)
Continue. Microphone number 3.
>> MARIO GONZALEZ: Councilor-at-Large. My Board of trustees loves the third part. My community loves the first part. And the friends of my library who own our library loves the middle part. So, I vote against this resolution. If you do rescind it, then I'll take it for my library. Thank you.
>> NANCY BOLT: I vote to support this motion. I think we should label the current motto as the Marvin Scilken memorial motto and then rescind this one, with thanks to Marvin for his past comments.
I think we need to in this day and age consider what we really want our motto and our image to be. I certainly consider reading at the core of my existence. However, I'm not sure for my association that is what I want to be the be all and end all of what we are about.
And I would like us to really think about what a motto might be that says what we are. Not only what we have been in the past, but also what we are now and what we hope to be in the future. So I hope we will rescind this and try and come up with a different one.
>> TIMOTHY GRIMES: The Library Instruction Round Table Councilor. I support this resolution. I think because of the last, getting rid of the last phrase, I don't know about all of you, but it does cost a lot of money to run our library. We have had to go to the voters before and discuss with them about the cost of purchasing books. And it isn't a lot -- it isn't a less amount of money. It's very expensive. So I would like to rescind this.
>> KAREN SCHNEIDER: Councilor-at-Large. I'm speaking in favor of this motion. I'd like to suggest that some of our Councilors apparently need a bone marrow transplant.
I'm a digital library manager, and we don't have any books, we don't have a building. Last year we had over 33 million accesses for our library. We serve hundreds of thousands of people every day. And I -- the motto is old. It is Stale. Women couldn't vote when it was written. I would propose a motto task force, except you know what the punishment for that is, you get to be on it. But it's time for the motto to go and I think we do need a motto but this isn't it. Thank you.
>> MELORA RANNEY NORMAN: Maine Chapter Councilor. I'd like to keep the motto, because I think that uncensored Internet access is a big part of the best reading for the largest number at the least cost.
>> BERNIE MARGOLIS: Councilor-at-Large. I oppose the resolution but do want to suggest that if we defeat it, and I hope we do, that we might consider just changing and calling it our historic motto. So we keep it as part of the record. We permit people to use it and refer to it as they see fit. And then we also open the opportunity of a new, more modern motto, should we desire to use that as a promotional opportunity.
>> KHAFRE ABIF: Councilor-at-Large. I would oppose this rescinding of this motto myself. As a children's librarian, many of us do a lot of work with children that are sitting at computers that can't read. We need to continue promoting books.
I got to Columbus metropolitan and I'm a branch manager children's specialist. I spoke to the staff saying that this library is not going to become Blockbuster, or an Internet place. It's going to be a place where children can come and read.
>> WILLIAM PAULLIN: I'd like to see this retired and make it our founding motto.
>> DANIEL O'CONNOR: Councilor-at-Large. I will work on the bone marrow transplant, I assure you. But when Karen has these 33 million uses, Councilor Schneider, I'm sure that those people are required to read something in the process of doing whatever it is they do.
At Rutgers I teach undergraduates courses in information visualization, MLS students and doctoral students. And whatever it is that we do with the technology, we like it when our students can read.
I want to address the comments made in regard to the facts that libraries are expensive. If they were expensive, we would all make a lot more money. The public libraries in this country consume about 3 percent of their town's budget. And the academic libraries that used to get 7 percent of their institution's budget are now lucky to get 3 and a half percent of the institution's budget. These are not expensive enterprises, but they are enterprises that have a tremendous return on their investment. And that OCLC Rebsite and document that came out in November is a remarkable indication of just how cost effectstive libraries are.
I urge that you defeat this motion, that we keep this motto, and that we wear it proudly and put it on buttons and wear it in Orlando. Thank you.
( Applause)
>> S. MICHAEL MALINCONICO: Councilor-at-Large. I speak against this resolution. And I just want to point out that it's just another manifestation of an absurd trend in taking the word "Library" out of library schools, so that we can seem more au courant. Where will this end? Are we going to take library out of the ALA, because library derives from libros, meaning book? I mean, this is just -- the illogical consequences of this are absurd. So I strongly urge that we defeat this resolution and this absurd discussion.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Any other discussion? Number 3?
>> I get a second chance, now that nobody else has said anything. Janet Swan Hill, Councilor-at-Large. What I'm surprised at, frankly, in this discussion, is how few people see this as a terribly condescending motto. That reflecting a history in which librarians regarded themselves as the social superiors of the poor, whom they were going to satisfy with reading, that's one of the reasons I object to this motto is I see it as seriously paternalistic and reflecting an aim of libraries that we have long since abandoned, and a vision of ourselves that we no longer hold.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: It's time for the vote. All those in favor of rescinding the ALA motto, please raise your hands.
( Showing of hands.)
All those opposed?
(Showing of hands.)
The motion appears to be defeated. And no one has asked for a -- microphone number 1.
>> MICHAEL GOLRICK: Member of the Executive Board. Madam President, may I ask for a standing vote, please.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: All those in favor of rescinding the ALA motto, please stand.
( Standing.)
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Thank you. All those opposed, please stand.
( Standing.)
52 in favor and 98 opposed. The motion fails.
Below is from the transcript of the ALA Council meeting. It is taken from a DOS based system, so some of the spacing may be "funky" even though I tried to strip all the formatting......otherwise here is what Lois Ann Gregory-Wood sent me. [I did correct a couple of misspellings/transcription errors. MAG]
For me, re-reading the debate/comments, it is interesting to see the combinations of folks on the two sides. For many of us, it was an unusual occurrence to be in agreement.
_____________________________
2003-2004 CD#57, Rescinding the ALA Motto (discussion at 04 Midwinter)
Whereas, the motto of the American Library Association, “The best reading, for the largest number, at the least cost,” was originally formulated in 1892, and is no longer adequately reflective of the aims, mission, and activities of the association; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the current ALA motto be removed from the ALA Handbook of Organization and from any other print or electronic documents in which it may be used, when those documents are next revised or reprinted.
Moved by Janet Swan Hill, Councilor-at-Large
Seconded by Michael Golrick, Executive Board Member
Here the captioned text from that discussion:
We will now take up new business, and they are taken in the order in which they were submitted. So I now refer you to ALA Council Document number 57. Resolution on rescinding the ALA motto. And would Janet Swan Hill go to the microphone and read only the resolved clause of document number 57.
Microphone number 3.
>> JANET SWAN HILL: Councilor-at-Large. Be it resolved that the American Library Association rescind its current motto. And be it further resolved that the current ALA motto be removed from the ALA handbook of organization and from any other print or electronic documents in which it may be used, when those documents are next revised or reprinted.
I hasten to say that this is not something that I consider as a passionate burning issue. I regard it more as housekeeping. When we were in the midst of discussing core values at some point recently, I was looking through the handbook and lo, on page 10, in our ALA handbook appears a motto that I have never ever ever seen used anywhere. Not only have I never seen it used anywhere, but the motto, "the best reading for the largest number at the least cost" seems to me to be not only seriously outdated and incomplete, but also paternalistic and condescending. It's my belief that after we finally finish the core values 2 task force and we come up with a statement of core values, we will be able to see a motto, should we think that one is necessary for the association, will grow out of that effort.
And I would like to have an empty space in which we can put that motto. And in the meantime. Not have ALA believe that its primary vision in this century is the best reading for the largest number at the least cost.
The reason I phrased the last resolved as I did was in order to decrease any financial impact this might possibly have. I did ask Lois Ann if she could think of anywhere it ever had been used and she could not. But on the possibility that it does appear somewhere on an ancient pile of stationery or something, that I wouldn't want us to go searching for it, but instead when we need to replenish that stationery or those cards or whatever, that at that point we make the revision to take the motto off. And this is seconded by Michael Golrick.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Discussion? Microphone number 1.
>> MICHAEL GOLRICK: Member of the Executive Board.
And I agree with everything that Janet said. I do want to point out a couple of historical tidbits of interest that were brought to my attention by ALA's newest honorary member, the esteemed Norman Horrocks, who noted that it was his action at the ALA Council in 1988 that restored its use, because it had disappeared even though it had never been officially undone. So, I think that in the interest of, as a charter member of the grammar caucus, and in the interest of accuracy, I support everything that Janet said, which is why I was more than happy.
As she noted, it appears on page 10 of your handbook. So far that is the only discernible place that we have been able to locate it. And I ask that you support this, with the idea that yes, when we get done with, and I dread mentioning those two words -- that two word phrase, core values, we will be able to write a motto that will be short, snappy, catchy and really reflect what the association stands for.
Thank you.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Microphone number 1.
>> NANN BLAINE HILYARD: Councilor-at-Large. I do remember an ALA annual meeting in 1988 when this was brought up and I remember that Marvin Scilken spoke to this eloquently. I don't know that ALA needs a motto. We have lots of short Pithy statements for our myriad public relations campaigns. I referred to one yesterday that you may or may not remember: What in the world does a librarian do? It's up to you. We have a lot of great snappy things in our arsenal and probably we don't need to have an official motto, as nice as this old one might be.
>> ELAINE HARGER: Councilor-at-Large. I also support this resolution. However, I do think that it's very important and given that, you know, many of us here have a great deal of appreciation for history and for what it tells us, even though this is a very quaint, outdated motto, it still embodies something that is still very important to this association and to every library. That we provide the best reading to the largest number of people at the least cost. And I think that that is something that, if we get rid of the motto, you know, that is fine with me. But I think that quaint and old as it is, it does remind us of something that we do value, that I think is still at the heart of our association.
So, in one sense I almost would vote against this, but I also understand that, you know, it's an old motto. We don't really need it. But we need to remember that it came from people who were working at a time when, you know, maybe providing good reading for the largest number of people at the least cost was a debate that they had. It was a debate that the association had. And somebody had to argue for it.
So, let's just remember that it is part of our core values.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Microphone number 6.
>> LORIENE ROY: Councilor-at-Large. I speak as probably the only person in the world who uses this motto.
( Laughter)
Which was written by Melville Dewey at the establishment of our association. And I use it in the context of a fall public libraries class, where the students look at this motto and create mottoes that carry us into the future. So...
(Applause.)
>> MICHAEL GORMAN: Councilor-at-Large. I'm probably the only person who is going to vote against this resolution.
>> No
>> No.
>> MICHAEL GORMAN: Because I don't mind who needs a motto, but the implied retreat from a commitment to reading and literacy, particularly following on a resolution which I had to hold my nose to vote for, because it contained a vial phrase "21st century literacy" you know, would that we had 19th century literacy.
( Laughter)
I believe that this association should, A, reinforce its standing commitment to true literacy; and, B, come up with another phrase entirely, not involving the use, the use of the word "Literacy" for competence in using computers.
>> SUE KAMM: Councilor-at-Large. I'd like to quote my favorite author, me. A number of years ago Pete Wilson, who was then the Governor of California, decided it would be fun to wire every single classroom in the state with Internet access.
And I said then and will say now, Internet access or any other kind of access does no good unless people can read the screen. So, I think that reading is -- that we need to keep promoting reading, and I urge the defeat of this resolution. Thank you.
(Applause.)
>> DANIEL O'CONNOR: Councilor-at-Large. I, too, urge the defeat of this resolution. I don't want to be so presumptive as to speak for Marvin Scilken, but he was an old friend of mine. And if he were here, I know he would have reminded us that circulation continues to climb across the country in our libraries, that book sales and bookstores are still thriving, and that why would we want to abandon a statement, a motto, that began this association? There is no reason to take action at this point in time. There is no reason at all for this resolution to come before us.
So I urge its defeat.
( Applause.)
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Microphone number 3.
>> ROBERTA STEVENS: Councilor-at-Large. I speak in support of rescinding the motto and remind everyone here that we just voted for programmatic priority on 21st century literacy.
>> CAROLYN CAYWOOD: IFRT Councilor. I'm happy to keep the reading, it's the "least cost" that sticks in my craw. I would like to see our salaries go up.
>> I never noticed this motto before. But I love it.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Identify yourself.
>> ELLEN SLOTOROFF ZYROFF: Councilor-at-Large. I never noticed that we had this motto. I think it's great. I think it was great then. I think it's great now. I think best reading does not necessarily just apply to books, if it's the implication here. It can be taken as a metaphor for what we do today, including the electronic and all the values and efficiencies that we are looking for. I think it's great. It would be terrible to delete it now.
>> IMMED. PAST PRES. MAURICE FREEDMAN: I'm going to speak against it also. And in response to the fifth priority, I think we can be for literacy, even if it's not 21st century literacy. And we can be for reading books, even if it's not 21st century literacy. Or if it is part of 21st century literacy. And this is the kind of thing Marvin would have really crusaded for, because he liked the Ranganathan thing, for reading the right book. I can't do it right. Michael Gorman I'm sure will do it better. But I thank Councilor Gorman for turning the tide on this. And I urge everybody to stick with something that we did in 18 -- we, Mr. Dewey, famous sexist, anti-Semite, racist, but he did something good for us. I'd like to keep that part of Mr. Dewey's legacy. But it's a good one and we should continue it. Thank you.
>> WYMA ROGERS: Oregon Chapter Councilor. I'm speaking in favor of this. I'm just fascinated that there is such passionate support for a motto that people have forgotten all about twice.
( Laughter)
That it had to be brought back in 1988, to be forgotten again.
( Laughter)
Clearly it doesn't do anything for us or our association. So, I am in favor of rescinding it.
>> CAROL BARTA: Kansas Chapter Councilor. I speak against the rescinding of the motion, for the very fact that the reason that so many of us forgot this existed is because it's embedded in the very marrow of your bones. Do we not all do these exact things as we work in our libraries, promote reading, Wring that last penny out of our budgets so we can provide the best things for the patrons? This is the deepest core value of our librarians than I can imagine. And I think it's what most of us live for, whether we are conscious of it or not.
( Applause)
>> JAMES CASEY: Councilor-at-Large. I move to end debate.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: A second?
>> Second.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Second over there. All in favor of ending discussion and debate? Please raise your hands.
( Showing of hands.)
All opposed?
(Showing of hands.)
Continue. Microphone number 3.
>> MARIO GONZALEZ: Councilor-at-Large. My Board of trustees loves the third part. My community loves the first part. And the friends of my library who own our library loves the middle part. So, I vote against this resolution. If you do rescind it, then I'll take it for my library. Thank you.
>> NANCY BOLT: I vote to support this motion. I think we should label the current motto as the Marvin Scilken memorial motto and then rescind this one, with thanks to Marvin for his past comments.
I think we need to in this day and age consider what we really want our motto and our image to be. I certainly consider reading at the core of my existence. However, I'm not sure for my association that is what I want to be the be all and end all of what we are about.
And I would like us to really think about what a motto might be that says what we are. Not only what we have been in the past, but also what we are now and what we hope to be in the future. So I hope we will rescind this and try and come up with a different one.
>> TIMOTHY GRIMES: The Library Instruction Round Table Councilor. I support this resolution. I think because of the last, getting rid of the last phrase, I don't know about all of you, but it does cost a lot of money to run our library. We have had to go to the voters before and discuss with them about the cost of purchasing books. And it isn't a lot -- it isn't a less amount of money. It's very expensive. So I would like to rescind this.
>> KAREN SCHNEIDER: Councilor-at-Large. I'm speaking in favor of this motion. I'd like to suggest that some of our Councilors apparently need a bone marrow transplant.
I'm a digital library manager, and we don't have any books, we don't have a building. Last year we had over 33 million accesses for our library. We serve hundreds of thousands of people every day. And I -- the motto is old. It is Stale. Women couldn't vote when it was written. I would propose a motto task force, except you know what the punishment for that is, you get to be on it. But it's time for the motto to go and I think we do need a motto but this isn't it. Thank you.
>> MELORA RANNEY NORMAN: Maine Chapter Councilor. I'd like to keep the motto, because I think that uncensored Internet access is a big part of the best reading for the largest number at the least cost.
>> BERNIE MARGOLIS: Councilor-at-Large. I oppose the resolution but do want to suggest that if we defeat it, and I hope we do, that we might consider just changing and calling it our historic motto. So we keep it as part of the record. We permit people to use it and refer to it as they see fit. And then we also open the opportunity of a new, more modern motto, should we desire to use that as a promotional opportunity.
>> KHAFRE ABIF: Councilor-at-Large. I would oppose this rescinding of this motto myself. As a children's librarian, many of us do a lot of work with children that are sitting at computers that can't read. We need to continue promoting books.
I got to Columbus metropolitan and I'm a branch manager children's specialist. I spoke to the staff saying that this library is not going to become Blockbuster, or an Internet place. It's going to be a place where children can come and read.
>> WILLIAM PAULLIN: I'd like to see this retired and make it our founding motto.
>> DANIEL O'CONNOR: Councilor-at-Large. I will work on the bone marrow transplant, I assure you. But when Karen has these 33 million uses, Councilor Schneider, I'm sure that those people are required to read something in the process of doing whatever it is they do.
At Rutgers I teach undergraduates courses in information visualization, MLS students and doctoral students. And whatever it is that we do with the technology, we like it when our students can read.
I want to address the comments made in regard to the facts that libraries are expensive. If they were expensive, we would all make a lot more money. The public libraries in this country consume about 3 percent of their town's budget. And the academic libraries that used to get 7 percent of their institution's budget are now lucky to get 3 and a half percent of the institution's budget. These are not expensive enterprises, but they are enterprises that have a tremendous return on their investment. And that OCLC Rebsite and document that came out in November is a remarkable indication of just how cost effectstive libraries are.
I urge that you defeat this motion, that we keep this motto, and that we wear it proudly and put it on buttons and wear it in Orlando. Thank you.
( Applause)
>> S. MICHAEL MALINCONICO: Councilor-at-Large. I speak against this resolution. And I just want to point out that it's just another manifestation of an absurd trend in taking the word "Library" out of library schools, so that we can seem more au courant. Where will this end? Are we going to take library out of the ALA, because library derives from libros, meaning book? I mean, this is just -- the illogical consequences of this are absurd. So I strongly urge that we defeat this resolution and this absurd discussion.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Any other discussion? Number 3?
>> I get a second chance, now that nobody else has said anything. Janet Swan Hill, Councilor-at-Large. What I'm surprised at, frankly, in this discussion, is how few people see this as a terribly condescending motto. That reflecting a history in which librarians regarded themselves as the social superiors of the poor, whom they were going to satisfy with reading, that's one of the reasons I object to this motto is I see it as seriously paternalistic and reflecting an aim of libraries that we have long since abandoned, and a vision of ourselves that we no longer hold.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: It's time for the vote. All those in favor of rescinding the ALA motto, please raise your hands.
( Showing of hands.)
All those opposed?
(Showing of hands.)
The motion appears to be defeated. And no one has asked for a -- microphone number 1.
>> MICHAEL GOLRICK: Member of the Executive Board. Madam President, may I ask for a standing vote, please.
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: All those in favor of rescinding the ALA motto, please stand.
( Standing.)
>> PRESIDENT CARLA HAYDEN: Thank you. All those opposed, please stand.
( Standing.)
52 in favor and 98 opposed. The motion fails.
Sunday, January 06, 2013
Angola Prison
This past fall, I went to the Louisiana State Penitentiary (aka Angola). The bad news is that it is the largest prison in Louisiana, and a high security facility. The good news is that I was only there for the day.
I was there for the 48th Annual Angola Prison Rodeo.They have a web site which features tickets for the spring event.
First of all, getting in....there was a line of cars from US-61 which wound down the 20 or miles or so into what seemed like wilderness in the direction of the River. Then I had to go through the checkpoint. They gave us a list of what we were allowed to bring with us onto the rodeo grounds. Included in the "no" list were cameras as well as even cell phones and knives. There was a checkpoint at the pedestrian gate, and folks who had bags (like purses) had those searched.
I bought the program, and started by looking at the crafts. Part of the "rodeo event" is the arts and crafts market which accompanies it, and surrounds the rodeo arena. The craft sales are one of the ways that inmates can earn money. It is a massive exhibit, and includes many interesting items. (But no photos, no cameras or even cell phones allowed inside -- see above.)
The program has some interesting tidbits. The prison:
If you ever have a chance, it is worth a visit.
For me, the added interest involves my job. One of the things that reference staff (small "r" since it is both Reference Staff and Louisiana Section Staff) answer questions mailed to us by inmates. Many, many of these letters come from Angola -- the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.
I was there for the 48th Annual Angola Prison Rodeo.They have a web site which features tickets for the spring event.
First of all, getting in....there was a line of cars from US-61 which wound down the 20 or miles or so into what seemed like wilderness in the direction of the River. Then I had to go through the checkpoint. They gave us a list of what we were allowed to bring with us onto the rodeo grounds. Included in the "no" list were cameras as well as even cell phones and knives. There was a checkpoint at the pedestrian gate, and folks who had bags (like purses) had those searched.
I bought the program, and started by looking at the crafts. Part of the "rodeo event" is the arts and crafts market which accompanies it, and surrounds the rodeo arena. The craft sales are one of the ways that inmates can earn money. It is a massive exhibit, and includes many interesting items. (But no photos, no cameras or even cell phones allowed inside -- see above.)
The program has some interesting tidbits. The prison:
- is one of only three accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA)
- is the largest in Louisiana -- 5,149
- is on 18,000 acres
- grows enough fresh produce to feed 11,000 inmates in five prisons year around
- has the only FCC licensed, prisoner run radio station (KLSP 97.1 FM)
- is the only prison with its own zip code (70712)
- has the highest percentage of its inmates serving life sentences (75%); 1.6% are under the death sentence
- has been the setting for many movies (but not Cool Hand Luke).
If you ever have a chance, it is worth a visit.
For me, the added interest involves my job. One of the things that reference staff (small "r" since it is both Reference Staff and Louisiana Section Staff) answer questions mailed to us by inmates. Many, many of these letters come from Angola -- the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
Reading and a Book Review: Hidden America
I don't often do book reviews. I have started receiving ARC's (Advance Readers Copies) in greater volume lately, and I don't know why. Because of what else is going on in my life, my reading time has been reduced. I have also been shifting between my e-reader and print.
However, I recently finished Hidden America: From Coal Miners to Cowboys... by Jeanne Marie Laskas. One of the blurbs on the back compares Ms. Laskas to Studs Terkel, in a positive way. That is high praise, indeed.
It is a well written book and each chapter tells a discrete story. The first chapter, on coal miners, appeared as a separate article, and the others are similarly able to stand independently. Each are the personal story of Ms. Laskas as she explores some of the jobs or people who are critical to the running of the country on a day to day basis. By exploring the personal stories, we get a glimpse behind the scenes. They are fascinating glimpses which put a personal face on what happens to make our lives so comfortable.
The first chapter explores coal mining in Ohio. (Yes, there are underground coal mines under parts of Ohio.) The subsequent chapters cover migrant workers (mostly in Maine for the blueberry harvest), the cheerleaders for the Cleveland Browns, air traffic controllers at LaGuardia, a gun store in Yuma (Arizona), a cattle ranch in Texas, an oil rig in the Arctic, a truck driver (from Ohio to Iowa and back), and the "sanitary landfill" outside Los Angeles.
It is an amazing journey to follow, and I even learned a little about the author along the way. For those who can extrapolate from the personal stories to the general, this can be a very instructive book. I actually read the chapter on the air traffic controllers while on a trip. There are some scary things going on behind the scenes. I read the story on the gun store after the incident in Newtown which added a poignancy to some of what was expressed in that story.
However, I recently finished Hidden America: From Coal Miners to Cowboys... by Jeanne Marie Laskas. One of the blurbs on the back compares Ms. Laskas to Studs Terkel, in a positive way. That is high praise, indeed.
It is a well written book and each chapter tells a discrete story. The first chapter, on coal miners, appeared as a separate article, and the others are similarly able to stand independently. Each are the personal story of Ms. Laskas as she explores some of the jobs or people who are critical to the running of the country on a day to day basis. By exploring the personal stories, we get a glimpse behind the scenes. They are fascinating glimpses which put a personal face on what happens to make our lives so comfortable.
The first chapter explores coal mining in Ohio. (Yes, there are underground coal mines under parts of Ohio.) The subsequent chapters cover migrant workers (mostly in Maine for the blueberry harvest), the cheerleaders for the Cleveland Browns, air traffic controllers at LaGuardia, a gun store in Yuma (Arizona), a cattle ranch in Texas, an oil rig in the Arctic, a truck driver (from Ohio to Iowa and back), and the "sanitary landfill" outside Los Angeles.
It is an amazing journey to follow, and I even learned a little about the author along the way. For those who can extrapolate from the personal stories to the general, this can be a very instructive book. I actually read the chapter on the air traffic controllers while on a trip. There are some scary things going on behind the scenes. I read the story on the gun store after the incident in Newtown which added a poignancy to some of what was expressed in that story.
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