Here is my tentative schedule for ALA Midwinter. Note that it is still tentative!
I am flying in on Thursday (1/23) and leaving on the 28th. (Note: I have not figured out how to make "Agenda" the default view.") Clicking on any event will show details. And do note the time zone note on the bottom. Here, I am seeing things in the Central Time zone, not sure how true that is for others.
Showing posts with label ALA Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ALA Council. Show all posts
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Thursday, June 13, 2019
ALA Annual - DC
Here is the semi-annual posting of my schedule ... Right now, this matches the version of the calendar in the ALA Scheduler, and lives both on Google Calendar and in my personal Outlook calendar. It is still tentative! There are overlapping meetings. Some of the decisions are "game day" decisions based on location and priority in my work/ALA life. I am the incoming chair of the ALA Membership Meetings Committee, so that meeting along with the Membership Meeting itself take priority. As the ASGCLA Division Councilor, Council and the ASGCLA Board get priority, too.
I get to town early, and will actually do some tourist things during the day on Thursday!
Clicking on any event will show details. Also clicking on "ALA" opens the calendar for that day. I have figured out how to show the Agenda ... this is a work in progress as I jump into HTML editing to make it look the way I want!
And do note the time zone note on the bottom. I have entered the correct time zone in the calendar ... so we will see how that works out for me. I may have mastered this!
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
ALA Elections 2019 [edited]
ALA ballots are coming out. I received mine, and have started working through the list.
There is a great guide to the election with candidate statements on the ALA web site. It is a great looking booklet, with a great description of Council including some of the pertinent actions taken over the past few years.
There is a link on page 16 to the Council bio statements (PDF, 194 pages!):
And there is an Excel workbook on the main election page:
There is a great guide to the election with candidate statements on the ALA web site. It is a great looking booklet, with a great description of Council including some of the pertinent actions taken over the past few years.http://www.ala.org/aboutala/sites/ala.org.aboutala/files/content/governance/alaelection/2019/elections-booklet-2019.pdf
There is a link on page 16 to the Council bio statements (PDF, 194 pages!):
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/sites/ala.org.aboutala/files/content/governance/alaelection/2017/All%20Councilor%20bios%202017..pdf
And there is an Excel workbook on the main election page:
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/alaelectionHere is a link to Andromeda Yelton's wonderful Council Candidate Sorter. (She has been doing this for several years now ... maybe 5 years?) The code behind it on GitHub (which I only very moderately understand...)
http://thatandromeda.github.io/ala_candidate_filter/2019_ala_council.htmlThe results will be posted April 10, 2019 on that last link above.
Thursday, March 01, 2018
ALA Elections - 2018 Edition
It is that time of year again!ALA Elections.
I am asked about choosing candidates for ALA Council. Well, have I got good news for you ... one of my friends (and current LITA President) Andromeda Yelton has put together a tool to sort through the ALA Council candidate list. She has been doing it for a few years now, and it could be that this is the first time I have blogged about it, although I am pretty sure I have posted it on Facebook. Here is what she said:
More on the election when ballots are released in about 10 days. (I am on the ballot again this year, but not the ballot which Andromeda parsed!)
I am asked about choosing candidates for ALA Council. Well, have I got good news for you ... one of my friends (and current LITA President) Andromeda Yelton has put together a tool to sort through the ALA Council candidate list. She has been doing it for a few years now, and it could be that this is the first time I have blogged about it, although I am pretty sure I have posted it on Facebook. Here is what she said:
Hi ALA people! Are you gearing up to vote in the ALA election. (<- answer="" be="" br="" here="" should="" the="" yes="">She also noted that there is a small issue:
This is my yearly candidate sorter. It lets you limit to people in particular divisions, round tables, ethnic caucuses, etc. (in addition to Cmd-F/Ctrl-F keyword search goodness). Hopefully it will make the job of finding people who represent you more manageable.
(there's a javascript bug whereby if you have checked, then unchecked, a filter you end up with an empty page. you can reload the page to reset it. hopefully I will have time to figure it out and fix it, but if you know how, pull requests welcome)Here is the link: https://thatandromeda.github.io/ala_candidate_filter/2018_ala_council.html
More on the election when ballots are released in about 10 days. (I am on the ballot again this year, but not the ballot which Andromeda parsed!)
Saturday, July 05, 2014
Relationships
No, I am not going to post about what is happening in my personal life.
Being at the ALA Annual Conference has put me in a reflective mood. One of the topics I have been thinking about the nature of personal relationships.
I love going to ALA Conferences, because I get to spend time with various folks who I do not get to see very often. For some of them, my relationship with them goes back to the mid-80s or before. (The mid-80s is when I began my active work in ALA.)
There are several folks with whom I have spent a great deal of time, in intense discussions, for a period of time. I am thinking of ALA Executive Board (EB) and ALA Council in particular. Service on the EB is very intense. There are 4 - 5 meetings in person each year (Midwinter and Annual included) with almost monthly phone conference calls, and many, many emails. Catching up with those folks is important to me. This is the one time of year when that happens.
From among my "Council friends," one of the things I value is the ability to disagree on any given issue, but to still maintain a relationship, if not deepen it. Respect for a person does not mean you cannot disagree.Indeed, some of the folks I most respect on Council, are some with whom I disagree on one or more issues. We can disagree without being disagreeable. I have one friend (from Council and EB) who often says, what is most important is keeping an open mind and listening, especially to those with whom you disagree. She cites an example (I remember the event, but not the issue), when she and I were among a small group who stood in support of a particular motion with some of the folks with whom we most often disagreed. We had sat and listened to the arguments, and changed our minds! Getting to hang out with folks like that is part of what has enriched my life in ALA.
Facebook helps to maintain contact with many of my ALA friends, and, for me, enriches many of my relationships. At the same time, it is important for me to have the "face-time" or IRL (In Real Life) contact. That is and important part of what ALA meetings are about for me today.
I also had one of those "serendipity" moments. The first day of the conference, I had wandered through my hotel, and accidentally into the next one. I "saw the light" and was headed towards the street. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice someone else headed that way, but I was trucking on. Then, after having passed the person, I heard my name. It was someone to whom I had been introduced on Facebook, and with whom I had chatted a couple of times, but had never met (even though they were from New Orleans!). We chatted for a few moments, and after I mentioned I was headed out to find food, we agreed to go have breakfast. We wound up at the restaurant across the street, aptly named Serendipity.
For me, it was a great beginning to the conference. Many relationships were solidified, and others renewed. It is part of what I need on a periodic basis.
Being at the ALA Annual Conference has put me in a reflective mood. One of the topics I have been thinking about the nature of personal relationships.
I love going to ALA Conferences, because I get to spend time with various folks who I do not get to see very often. For some of them, my relationship with them goes back to the mid-80s or before. (The mid-80s is when I began my active work in ALA.)
There are several folks with whom I have spent a great deal of time, in intense discussions, for a period of time. I am thinking of ALA Executive Board (EB) and ALA Council in particular. Service on the EB is very intense. There are 4 - 5 meetings in person each year (Midwinter and Annual included) with almost monthly phone conference calls, and many, many emails. Catching up with those folks is important to me. This is the one time of year when that happens.
From among my "Council friends," one of the things I value is the ability to disagree on any given issue, but to still maintain a relationship, if not deepen it. Respect for a person does not mean you cannot disagree.Indeed, some of the folks I most respect on Council, are some with whom I disagree on one or more issues. We can disagree without being disagreeable. I have one friend (from Council and EB) who often says, what is most important is keeping an open mind and listening, especially to those with whom you disagree. She cites an example (I remember the event, but not the issue), when she and I were among a small group who stood in support of a particular motion with some of the folks with whom we most often disagreed. We had sat and listened to the arguments, and changed our minds! Getting to hang out with folks like that is part of what has enriched my life in ALA.
Facebook helps to maintain contact with many of my ALA friends, and, for me, enriches many of my relationships. At the same time, it is important for me to have the "face-time" or IRL (In Real Life) contact. That is and important part of what ALA meetings are about for me today.
I also had one of those "serendipity" moments. The first day of the conference, I had wandered through my hotel, and accidentally into the next one. I "saw the light" and was headed towards the street. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice someone else headed that way, but I was trucking on. Then, after having passed the person, I heard my name. It was someone to whom I had been introduced on Facebook, and with whom I had chatted a couple of times, but had never met (even though they were from New Orleans!). We chatted for a few moments, and after I mentioned I was headed out to find food, we agreed to go have breakfast. We wound up at the restaurant across the street, aptly named Serendipity.
For me, it was a great beginning to the conference. Many relationships were solidified, and others renewed. It is part of what I need on a periodic basis.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
ALA Executive Board Elections
There has been a recent discussion on the ALA Council List about parts of the process for electing ALA Executive Board members. Anyone can read the postings. Go to the ALA List of discussion lists http://lists.ala.org/sympa and look under Governance for the Council list. Once you click on it, look for the box on the left side of the page for Archives, or look here for the threaded discussion.
As background, you may want to read Bobbi Newman's wonderful post The First Rule of ALA Executive Board is You Don’t Talk About ALA Executive Board. It gives all the foundational documents (and links) and some insight on her experience, which is more recent than mine. I highly recommend that you read the comments also, not just because I commented. Peggy Sullivan, who was both on the ALA EB as President and as Executive Director, offers some perspective as well.
In the comments I said a couple of things that I want to repeat for those who don't bother to go there:
[An aside: I spent my first two terms on Council as a Chapter Councilor. I perceived my role as that of representing my state, and of representing ALA to my state. For Presidential and Treasurer elections, I was (well, tried to be) as even-handed as I could. The only opinion I would offer would be a private one, privately. As a member of the Executive Board, I felt that I could not in good conscience campaign since I would wind up serving with the successful candidate, and if I had vocally backed the "other candidate" that would have felt awkward to me. That is a statement of why I acted the way I did. As a Councilor-at-Large, I did as I wished, and did publicly endorse and actively support candidates.]
A part of me agrees with the idea that there should be more discussion prior to Midwinter, and more opportunities to interact with the candidates. When I "stood" for election, I did not really stand still. I made it a point to talk to fellow Councilors at the reception (Midwinter only event) for new Councilors. I chatted with them before and after sessions, each meeting of the Council Forum/Caucus, at the Chapter Councilor meeting, at committee meetings, etc. I did ask those I knew to vote for me. As many know, I am usually vocal, and did not silence myself during the period. Today would be different.
There is also not always someone nominated from the floor. There was the year I was elected, and that person was one of the successful candidates.
As background, you may want to read Bobbi Newman's wonderful post The First Rule of ALA Executive Board is You Don’t Talk About ALA Executive Board. It gives all the foundational documents (and links) and some insight on her experience, which is more recent than mine. I highly recommend that you read the comments also, not just because I commented. Peggy Sullivan, who was both on the ALA EB as President and as Executive Director, offers some perspective as well.
In the comments I said a couple of things that I want to repeat for those who don't bother to go there:
I served on the ALA EB from 2003 – 2006, and started my blog most of the way through my term. I did talk some about being on the Board, and certainly on the blog have talked about service on Council. ...
One of the important points that Karen has raised, is the fact that it is easier to publish, even share, intentions today than it was. It is also true that there was (I am no longer a member of ALA Council, so I can't judge the current climate) a climate of this election being one of "standing for election" unlike for President, Treasurer, or even Council itself, of "running." After all, I have helped candidates with handing out flyers, talking up platform issues, even doing electronic mailings. I did so gladly when I felt that I could, and that it did not compromise my position.One of the wonderful things that happened when I ran was that the six of us nominated by the Committee on Committees all went out to dinner at that Midwinter. It was a very congenial group. Two of those six were elected (the other person elected was nominated from the floor and could not join us for dinner). Of those not elected two were elected in later years.
[An aside: I spent my first two terms on Council as a Chapter Councilor. I perceived my role as that of representing my state, and of representing ALA to my state. For Presidential and Treasurer elections, I was (well, tried to be) as even-handed as I could. The only opinion I would offer would be a private one, privately. As a member of the Executive Board, I felt that I could not in good conscience campaign since I would wind up serving with the successful candidate, and if I had vocally backed the "other candidate" that would have felt awkward to me. That is a statement of why I acted the way I did. As a Councilor-at-Large, I did as I wished, and did publicly endorse and actively support candidates.]
A part of me agrees with the idea that there should be more discussion prior to Midwinter, and more opportunities to interact with the candidates. When I "stood" for election, I did not really stand still. I made it a point to talk to fellow Councilors at the reception (Midwinter only event) for new Councilors. I chatted with them before and after sessions, each meeting of the Council Forum/Caucus, at the Chapter Councilor meeting, at committee meetings, etc. I did ask those I knew to vote for me. As many know, I am usually vocal, and did not silence myself during the period. Today would be different.
There is also not always someone nominated from the floor. There was the year I was elected, and that person was one of the successful candidates.
ALA Elections 2014 - My list
Some years I have written more about this, and other years less. This year is going to be a minimal post. Below are listed the folks for whom I will vote for ALA Council. I am still undecided about ALA President, I know both candidates slightly, and am still trying to make up my mind -- unlike in some past years where I had a clear favorite.
Not making the list does not mean that I dislike or disagree with a person. More likely, I just do not either know them well enough or know their work well enough to support them. The list below is alphabetical, because that is the way my ballot is/was.
Vivian Bordeaux
I worked with Vivian at the Bridgeport Public Library. She is very thoughtful.
I worked with Vivian at the Bridgeport Public Library. She is very thoughtful.
Matthew Ciszek
I met Matthew through working on Council. He is very well-spoken and articulate. (Plus usually agree with him!)
I met Matthew through working on Council. He is very well-spoken and articulate. (Plus usually agree with him!)
Emily E. Clasper
Emily is a dynamic library trainer from New York. I think she would be a great addition to Council.
Emily is a dynamic library trainer from New York. I think she would be a great addition to Council.
Roberto C. Delgadillo
Like several of the folks on this list, I met Roberto through Council. He brings a wealth of knowledge to Council.
Like several of the folks on this list, I met Roberto through Council. He brings a wealth of knowledge to Council.
John Desantis
Like several of the folks on this list, I met John through Council. He is in tech services which is a part of the
profession often under-represented on Council, and John is articulate on the issues he chooses to address.
Like several of the folks on this list, I met John through Council. He is in tech services which is a part of the
profession often under-represented on Council, and John is articulate on the issues he chooses to address.
Ed Garcia
Ed has been the Rhode Island Chapter Councilor, and is articulate and thoughtful.
Ed has been the Rhode Island Chapter Councilor, and is articulate and thoughtful.
Rhonda K. Puntney Gould
I have known Rhonda for a number of years. She is active in ALSC, and has worked with the Wisconsin Library
Association prior to her recent "removal" to Washington (and a different WLA).
I have known Rhonda for a number of years. She is active in ALSC, and has worked with the Wisconsin Library
Association prior to her recent "removal" to Washington (and a different WLA).
Dora Ho
Dora is a former ALA Exec Board member. I worked with her on the Membership Committee. She has the
broad perspective that is important on Council.
Dora is a former ALA Exec Board member. I worked with her on the Membership Committee. She has the
broad perspective that is important on Council.
Em Claire Knowles
Em Claire is a former ALA Exec Board member. She has the broad perspective that is important on Council.
Susan L. JenningsEm Claire is a former ALA Exec Board member. She has the broad perspective that is important on Council.
I met Susan as part of my work on Council.
Margaret L. Kirkpatrick
Margaret L. Kirkpatrick
Margaret is a long-time support of Youth Services issues. She has a long and distiguished record on Council and,
I think deserved to be elected.
Charles E. Kratz
I think deserved to be elected.
Charles E. Kratz
Charles is another former ALA Exec Board member. He has the broad perspective that is important on Council.
Rodney Eugene Lippard
Rodney Eugene Lippard
Rodney is a former Chapter Councilor who is also thoughtful and well-spoken.
Mike L. Marlin
Mike L. Marlin
Mike is a vocal advocate for people with disabilities, and I have come to respect his expertise in this area
Dale K. McNeill
Dale K. McNeill
I have known Dale electronically for many years, initially from the PUBLIB discussion list. He would be a great
addition to Council.
Michael J. Miller
addition to Council.
Michael J. Miller
I have worked with Michael on several committees over the years. He is thoughtful and articulate
Jerome Offord
Jerome Offord
I got to know Jerome primarily through his work in diversity at OCLC, and our overlapping group of friends. He is
thoughtful and well-spoken.
Andrew Pace
thoughtful and well-spoken.
Andrew Pace
Andrew is a well-spoken and thoughtful person who also is an advocate of appropriate use of technology.
Kevin Reynolds
Kevin Reynolds
Kevin is another former ALA Exec Board member. He has the broad perspective that is important on Council
He previously had served as the Tennessee Chapter Councilor. It is important for the Chapter perspective to
be represented by more than just the official Chapter Councilors.
Jules Shore
He previously had served as the Tennessee Chapter Councilor. It is important for the Chapter perspective to
be represented by more than just the official Chapter Councilors.
Jules Shore
I know Jules mostly from social media. He is a medical librarian, and as such, would represent a segment of libraries
which is under-represented on ALA Council.
Christian Zabriskie
Christian is one of the founders of the Urban Libraries Unite, an important new library advocacy group.
So...that is my list.
which is under-represented on ALA Council.
Christian Zabriskie
Christian is one of the founders of the Urban Libraries Unite, an important new library advocacy group.
So...that is my list.
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
ALA Elections - Part 4 aka Why no "parties" in Council
Ok, so sue me. I couldn't resist a subtitle on this post, and especially to talk about "parties."
You would think that ALA Council, with 190 or so members would have some sort of organizing mechanism or groups like other legislative bodies. But, there are no "parties" in Council.
Not that it hasn't been tried.
Back in the 1980s or 1990s there were a group of folks who campaigned together. They were all folks who agreed on some basic principles, and agreed to work together if they were elected. I.m not sure what happened. I think some were elected and some not. My memory is fuzzy enough to not even remember who was in that group. I vaguely recall that it included folks like Jim Rettig (former ALA President), the late ... from Georgia, and others who are very thoughtful reasonable people.
There is a group trying to do it again this year, they are theALA Think Tank Caucus for Council (a Facebook account will be needed to follow this link, I think). The members of this group are:
Then there are Chapter Councilors. There are 54 Chapters covering the states and territories. After they pay dues (as a chapter), they are permitted to send a Councilor to represent that chapter. Those Chapters that are multi-state (New England Library Association, Mountain Plains Library Association, etc.) do not have a councilor since each of their constituent territories already does. That is the second largest group.
Then there are the Division and the Round Table Councilors. Each ALA Division has a Councilor (12) and the five largest Round Tables also each have a Councilor with the remaining Round Tables choosing a joint councilor (the "Small Round Table Councilor"). There are a total of 18.
All ALA Executive Board members are members of Council as is the Executive Director (who typically does not vote). The Executive Board consists of 8 members chosen by Council from its membership plus the Association-wide elected officers (4). The latter are the President-Elect, President, Past President, and Treasurer.
In my service on Council, and I started as a Chapter Councilor, the Chapter Councilors and the Division Councilors meet as groups to discuss issues which affect them in their roles. I believe that the Round Table Councilors meet along with the Round Table Coordinating Committee to talk about their issues.
My experience has been that as a Chapter Councilor, I was representing a group which was as diverse as ALA is as a whole. I reported back to the Chapter, at Chapter Board meetings, and received informal input regularly. Also as an Executive Board member, I received informal input from both Councilors and from ALA members.
In my service and memory, there has never been an issue facing ALA and ALA Council around which there would be polarizing and competing views to the extent that a "party" would form. There are often alliances. When I first joined Council there were a group of folks who generally agreed and sat together. (They sat in the back row or rows, in the middle.) It was more noticeable then because if it were not clear from a voice vote, we voted by standing rather than raising a hand. That group fairly uniformly voted as a block on some issues, the one I remember is that they would never vote in favor of closing debate.
That is my perspective. For what it is worth.
You would think that ALA Council, with 190 or so members would have some sort of organizing mechanism or groups like other legislative bodies. But, there are no "parties" in Council.
Not that it hasn't been tried.
Back in the 1980s or 1990s there were a group of folks who campaigned together. They were all folks who agreed on some basic principles, and agreed to work together if they were elected. I.m not sure what happened. I think some were elected and some not. My memory is fuzzy enough to not even remember who was in that group. I vaguely recall that it included folks like Jim Rettig (former ALA President), the late ... from Georgia, and others who are very thoughtful reasonable people.
There is a group trying to do it again this year, they are theALA Think Tank Caucus for Council (a Facebook account will be needed to follow this link, I think). The members of this group are:
- Erica Findley
- Mel Gooch
- John Jackson
- Lynda Kellam
- Kate Kosturski
- Chris Kyauk
- Coral Sheldon-Hess
- Manya Shorr
- Patrick Sweeney
facebook's largest active group of info-sharing for librarians. we #makeithappen and #partyhard TOGETHER.So why are there no parties (well, organized blocks) in ALA Council? I think part of it is the way in which Council is constructed. Like Nebraska, the legislative body is unicameral, but unlike Nebraska, members are chosen by a variety of routes. First, there are 100 Councilors-at-Large. That is the largest single block, and approximately 1/3 are elected each year to serve a 3-year term.
DISCLAIMER: WHILE we love the American Library Association, we are IN NO WAY affiliated with them. ALA, in our case, stands for "Awesome Librarians Associated" because everyone here is awesome. You do NOT need to be an American Library Association member to be here. You don't even need to be American!"
Then there are Chapter Councilors. There are 54 Chapters covering the states and territories. After they pay dues (as a chapter), they are permitted to send a Councilor to represent that chapter. Those Chapters that are multi-state (New England Library Association, Mountain Plains Library Association, etc.) do not have a councilor since each of their constituent territories already does. That is the second largest group.
Then there are the Division and the Round Table Councilors. Each ALA Division has a Councilor (12) and the five largest Round Tables also each have a Councilor with the remaining Round Tables choosing a joint councilor (the "Small Round Table Councilor"). There are a total of 18.
All ALA Executive Board members are members of Council as is the Executive Director (who typically does not vote). The Executive Board consists of 8 members chosen by Council from its membership plus the Association-wide elected officers (4). The latter are the President-Elect, President, Past President, and Treasurer.
In my service on Council, and I started as a Chapter Councilor, the Chapter Councilors and the Division Councilors meet as groups to discuss issues which affect them in their roles. I believe that the Round Table Councilors meet along with the Round Table Coordinating Committee to talk about their issues.
My experience has been that as a Chapter Councilor, I was representing a group which was as diverse as ALA is as a whole. I reported back to the Chapter, at Chapter Board meetings, and received informal input regularly. Also as an Executive Board member, I received informal input from both Councilors and from ALA members.
In my service and memory, there has never been an issue facing ALA and ALA Council around which there would be polarizing and competing views to the extent that a "party" would form. There are often alliances. When I first joined Council there were a group of folks who generally agreed and sat together. (They sat in the back row or rows, in the middle.) It was more noticeable then because if it were not clear from a voice vote, we voted by standing rather than raising a hand. That group fairly uniformly voted as a block on some issues, the one I remember is that they would never vote in favor of closing debate.
That is my perspective. For what it is worth.
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.
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